Nova Scotia's pirate history

Nova Scotia was once part of the "Golden Age of Piracy". From around 1690 to 1730, pirates were a common menace in Nova Scotian waters.

Piracy was illegal, and when pirates were caught, their punishment was death. Because of this law, many sites around Halifax associated with pirate history are where pirates were caught or punished, giving them a bit of a spooky vibe.

Georges Island

Two pirates were said to have been caught and hanged on Georges Island in 1784, and legend has it their ghosts continue to haunt the island to this day. You can take a ferry to the island in the summer and explore Fort Charlotte's tunnels and the island's darker role as an internment camp and prison for Acadians. 

Point Pleasant Park

A man named Edward Jordan was put on trial for piracy in Halifax in 1809. He was accused and found guilty of stealing a ship called the Three Sisters. He was hanged at Point Pleasant Park near Black Rock Beach. You can walk in the park today, seeing other touchpoints of history. This brochure by the Halifax Military Heritage Preservation Society is a fantastic resource for exploring the park.

Bedford Basin

Legend has it that Navy Island is home to an entire crew of pirate ghosts who stand guard over a legendary, long-lost treasure - a treasure that has never been found.

Eastern Shore

Nova Scotia's last major piracy trial happened in 1844. Six pirates were brought to Halifax to stand trial after they were shipwrecked on the Eastern Shore. Their ship, the Saladin, was carrying a cargo of silver bars and coins, and the crew had formed a mutiny. They were fighting over the treasure when they crashed on the Eastern Shore.