Nova Scotia's Historic Ferries

Nova Scotia is a peninsula—almost an island—with a meandering coastline and a crisscrossing network of rivers. For both Indigenous people and settlers, these rivers have often served as highways, but they've also sometimes been major obstacles to travel. Inevitably, as travel increased in the province, a demand for ferry services over many of its bodies of water grew.

In the mid-nineteenth century, ferries over rivers and harbours, across straits and out to islands, and to neighbouring provinces became indispensable in the province. The original ferryboats were rowed, sometimes towing scows for carrying horses, buggies, cattle, or sheep. Over the years, rowboats were replaced by sailboats, steamboats, or motorboats, and today's few remaining ferries are diesel operated. Today, most of Nova Scotia's former ferries have been replaced with bridges or causeways.

With thirty historical images and thirty-five helpful maps, and from the author of numerous titles in the "Shaping Nova Scotia" series, Nova Scotia's Historic Ferries: The Boats that Bridged the Province explores the fascinating history of more than forty of Nova Scotia's ferries, the people who operated them, and the communities they served.

Nova Scotia is a peninsula—almost an island—with a meandering coastline and a crisscrossing network of rivers. For both Indigenous people and settlers, these rivers have often served as highways, but they've also sometimes been major obstacles to travel. Inevitably, as travel increased in the province, a demand for ferry services over many of its bodies of water grew.

In the mid-nineteenth century, ferries over rivers and harbours, across straits and out to islands, and to neighbouring provinces became indispensable in the province. The original ferryboats were rowed, sometimes towing scows for carrying horses, buggies, cattle, or sheep. Over the years, rowboats were replaced by sailboats, steamboats, or motorboats, and today's few remaining ferries are diesel operated. Today, most of Nova Scotia's former ferries have been replaced with bridges or causeways.

With thirty historical images and thirty-five helpful maps, and from the author of numerous titles in the "Shaping Nova Scotia" series, Nova Scotia's Historic Ferries: The Boats that Bridged the Province explores the fascinating history of more than forty of Nova Scotia's ferries, the people who operated them, and the communities they served.