About Black Loyalist Heritage Centre
Heritage site and museum in Birchtown, near Shelburne, telling the story of the Black Loyalists who settled here in 1783 and formed the largest free African population outside of Africa.
Features & Highlights
Detailed Information
The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, perched on a tranquil two-acre property overlooking Shelburne Harbour in the historic community of Birchtown, tells the story of one of the most significant chapters in North American history: the settlement of the Black Loyalists who, in the aftermath of the American Revolution, came to Nova Scotia and formed the largest free African population outside of Africa.
The Historical Narrative
Between 1783 and 1785, as the American Revolution drew to a close, roughly 3,500 Black Loyalists made the journey to Nova Scotia. They were the largest group of people of African birth and of African descent to arrive in the province, seeking freedom and a new life under the British Crown. Their arrival took place during a period of enormous change — between 1776 and 1785, some 40,000 United Empire Loyalists came to the British colony of Nova Scotia, tripling its population. Many of the Black Loyalists settled in Birchtown, named for Brigadier General Samuel Birch, who had issued certificates that protected formerly enslaved Black people who reached British lines.
Life in Birchtown was extraordinarily difficult. The land was rocky and hard to farm, supplies were scarce, and the freedoms promised were often only partially realized. Yet the community endured, building homes, churches, and a society of its own making. A decade later, in 1792, more than a thousand of Birchtown's Black Loyalists chose to leave Nova Scotia entirely, sailing for Sierra Leone in West Africa as part of an organized migration in search of the self-governance and security that had eluded them. The Centre traces this full arc — arrival, struggle, and departure — with care and dignity.
What to See on the Site
The heritage site extends well beyond the main interpretive centre. A wall of windows etched with the names of the Black Loyalists offers a powerful point of reflection, placing individual human stories at the heart of the experience. Visitors can walk the grounds to several restored historic buildings, including St. Paul's Church and the Old School House, and the Pit House. A National Monument commemorates the Black Loyalist Landing in Birchtown in 1783. Walking trails thread through the property alongside Acker's Brook, and the site's position above Shelburne Harbour gives the whole visit a quiet, contemplative atmosphere — walking, as the Centre describes it, in the footsteps of ancestors.
The Centre also presents a rotating program of exhibitions. One recent example, "We and the Sea: Honouring the Marine Heritage of African Nova Scotians," explores more than 400 years of African Nova Scotian connection to the sea, broadening the story beyond the Loyalist era.
Practical Details
Location: 119 Old Birchtown Road, Shelburne, Nova Scotia. The site is less than 10 kilometres from the town of Shelburne; take Exit 27 off the Trans Canada Highway 103.
Hours: Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed weekends). From early July, summer hours begin and the Centre is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hours are subject to seasonal change, so confirm before travelling.
Admission: Adults $9.20; seniors (65+) and children (6–17) $5.75; children 5 and under free; family rate $23.00 (maximum 2 adults and 3 children). The site participates in the Nova Scotia Museum pass program and, during summer, in the Canada Strong Pass, which offers free admission for those 17 and under and a 50% discount for visitors aged 18–24.
Accessibility: The main building is on one level with wide pathways, accessible washrooms, and seating throughout. An automatic door opener, a wheelchair-height admissions counter, and a loaner wheelchair are available. The Old School House and St. Paul's Church have ramps, and the Pit House entrance is at ground level.
Why Visit
Part of the Nova Scotia Museum system, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre is one of the most meaningful heritage sites in the province — a place that recovers and honours a history of resilience, migration, and the pursuit of freedom. For visitors exploring the South Shore, it offers essential context for understanding the full story of Nova Scotia and the people who shaped it.
