Explore the birthplace of Acadian Culture with Parks Canada

Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence National Historic Sites

Discover two national historic sites, once home to the Mi’kmaq, Acadians, French, and British. Witness the legacy of a vibrant Acadian community, which became a crucial battleground in the 17th and 18th-century conflict between Britain and France.

Visitors are invited to admire the landscape where the remnants of the village of Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence are hidden below the surface.

Plan your visit to Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence National Historic Sites

Grand-Pré National Historic Site

Located in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Grand-Pré is a profound memorial to the tragic upheaval and resilience of the Acadian people. It was the largest Acadian settlement before the Deportation of 1755-1763.

Captivating presentations, exhibits, and guided tours share the story of the Great Upheaval and the strength of the Acadian people.

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Port-Royal National Historic Site

In 1604 French nobleman, Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, established a settlement on Saint Croix Island – a colonizing venture that eventually led to a permanent French presence in Acadie. In 1605, following a difficult winter, the settlers moved to present day Port-Royal and built the Habitation – a reconstruction is what you see today.

Meet the French settlers who lived and created alliances with the Mi’kmaw who helped them survive.

Plan your visit to Port-Royal National Historic Site

Fort Anne National Historic Site

After the Habitation was destroyed by the English in 1613, the French returned in 1636 under the leadership of Charles de Menou d’Aulnay. The colonists set up homesteads on the land surrounding present-day Fort Anne. It was at this time the colonists started referring to themselves as Acadians.

Join a guided Acadian tour and see where the remains of the Acadian chapel and cemetery are believed to be located. Exhibits inside the Officers’ Quarters Museum provide a glimpse into Acadian life.

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Melanson Settlement National Historic Site

Acadian settlements prospered along the fertile Annapolis River, cultivating tidal marshlands reclaimed through an extensive system of dykes.

Wander the landscape and take in the view.

Plan your visit to Melanson Settlement National Historic Site

Fort Edward National Historic Site

Fort Edward Blockhouse played a central role in the military struggles between the British, Acadians, and Mi’kmaw people. It also served as a prison and deportation centre for over 1,000 Acadians from nearby villages.

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Georges Island National Historic Site

Over 900 Acadians were imprisoned on the island, located in the centre of Halifax Harbour. Housed in two sheds, often exposed to the elements, many perished in the terrible conditions.

Hear one family’s story of their imprisonment as you view the Halifax waterfront.

Plan your visit to Georges Island National Historic Site

Sable Island National Park Reserve

The Sable Island horses are believed to be descendants of animals introduced to the island in the 1700s. The generally accepted idea is that Boston minister Andrew LeMercier first introduced the horses to the island in 1737 and 1738.

Sometime after 1755, Boston ship owner Thomas Hancock shipped horses to Sable Island. The horses were from the deported Nova Scotian Acadians that he transported to New England colonies during the period known as the Great Upheaval.

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Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Nestled along the coastline of northern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Highlands National Park spans 950 square kilometers of rugged wilderness. The park reflects a deep connection between land, sea, and people, where diverse cultures have shared their histories.

Along its western coast, where Acadian communities have thrived for centuries, visitors can explore trails that meander through the Acadian Forest, see remnants of old Acadian homes, or participate in an Acadian interpretation program at the Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge campground.

Plan your visit to Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

During the18th century, Acadians were an integral part of Louisbourg's cosmopolitan society. Servants, fishers, artisans, merchants, and members of the elite played an active role in this bustling fishing port. Among the first Acadians to arrive in Louisbourg were women who married French officers from the Compagnies franches de la Marine, originally stationed in Acadia. Louisbourg is also the birthplace of Jeanne Dugas, a figure of national historic significance.

Today, the Fortress of Louisbourg is the largest historical re-enactment in North America, offering a multitude of activities for visitors to enjoy.

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Boishébert and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Sites

Site of Acadian refuge established in the mid 1750s and important site for the shipbuilding industry in the early 19th century.

Learn about the stories of mi’kmaw culture, adventurous Voyageurs, Acadian courage and ambitious shipbuilding. Journey to a fascinating archaeological site in a scenic island setting along the meandering Miramichi River.

Plan your visit to Boishébert and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Sites

Monument Lefebvre National Historic Site

A symbol of contemporary Acadie, this historic monument commemorates Father Camille Lefebvre and his initiative to create the first French language, degree-granting college in Atlantic Canada.

Experience the triumphs of the Acadians through artefacts, film, performances, a cultural café and the permanent exhibit.

Plan your visit to Monument Lefebvre National Historic Site

Kouchibouguac National Park

Discover a national park on New Brunswick’s Acadian Coast where lush Acadian forests lead to colorful salt marshes and warm ocean beaches. Twenty-five kilometers of golden sand dunes create sheltered estuaries and calm waters for all to enjoy. At night, this Dark Sky Preserve is a celestial masterpiece and each of these natural wonders intertwines with fascinating Mi’kmaq , Acadian, and other settlers’ cultures.

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Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland National Historic Site

The fort of Beauséjour played a crucial role in the rivalry between France and Britain in North America. It was in 1755 at this strategic spot on the Isthmus of Chignecto that the tragic events of the Deportation began to unfold.

Discover a star-shaped fort, with fascinating exhibits and artifacts, and visit the site's spectral remains, barracks and ramparts.

Plan your visit to Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland National Historic Site

Revealing Chignecto: The Stories Within

Parks Canada’s exhibit, “Revealing Chignecto: The Stories Within,” looks deeply at the history of this region and focuses on its archaeology: vestiges that represent millennia of Mi’kmaw communities, Acadian villages, and 18th-century forts. Memories live here, across Chignecto’s lands and waters.

Plan your visit to "Revealing Chignecto: The Stories Within"