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This is a great memorial to the explosion that took place during WWI when two ships, one a munitions ship, collided in the harbour. The bell tower is just the icing on the cake. Needham Memorial Park (where it’s located) is full of artistic memorials to this tragedy. In fact, monuments are all over this part of Halifax. It’s a steep but short climb up. There’s a great playground for the kids, a big field and picnic tables. Location is very close to the Hydrostone shops. …
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Date of experience: May 2020
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This is certainly a commemorative place to visit if you have a connection to the thousands of people who list their lives, or were injured, or displaced in the Halifax Explosion of 1917. The tower and bells are a permanent memorial to the many people who were killed, the identified, the unidentified and those who were never found, those who suffered horrendous injuries, and to the thousands of residents who lost everything they owned in the greatest man-made explosion till Hiroshima, the Halifax Explosion of 06 December 1917. The bell tower was built in 1985, and contains a carillon of ten bells which were originally placed in a church which was built soon after the disaster. The bells were moved to this memorial when the old church tower which contained them was deemed unsafe in the 1970s. The bell tower is quite a distance from downtown Halifax, a good 40 minute walk, or a drive. It’s located in the Fort Needham Memorial Park, at the northern end of the North End district. I personally didn’t find the structure particularly attractive, and could not figure out when the bells actually ring, but don’t let that detract you from your visit if you have more personal connections to the site. Whilst in the area it’s really quite worthwhile checking out the housing estate which lies just to the west of the park, The Hydrostone. It's so named because of the special non-combustible concrete blocks (called hydrostone blocks) which were used to rebuild this part of residential Halifax which had suffered considerable damage from the explosion. It’s a good example of innovation which arose as a result of the ashes. 10 blocks of row houses were built in an area bounded by Young, Isleville, Duffus and Novalea. Built in the style of an English garden suburb, the simple hydrostone row houses face onto wide tree-lined streets with grassy central areas. And as found in many urban areas of the same era in England, the houses back into narrow service lane ways. The area was rebuilt in 1920, and today it retains its history, and has become a bit of a fashionable corner of Halifax. And whilst you’re there, check out the Hydrostone Market on Young; it has a charming little collection of shops: a bakery, some restaurants, and some artisan boutiques and galleries.…
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Date of experience: August 2019
11 Helpful votes
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Beautiful and very nicely done. Great atmosphere with lots of people enjoying the grounds. Extremely unique memorial. The only thing we found odd is that we couldn't find out anywhere where it's written when exactly the bells ring during the day!
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Date of experience: August 2018
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On our recent trip to Halifax, we were taken to the story of the explosion. Being from Boston, I am well aware of the Christmas tree every year from the city of Halifax to the city of Boston (Thank you), but I did not know the details. We learned the facts from talking to some folks and reading material we found in a bookstore near Halifax Historic Properties. But in knowing the facts, we found the Memorial Bell Tower to be simple yet powerful. It is a quick walk form your car, once you find it in Fort Needham Park. We were very glad we took the time.…
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Date of experience: July 2018
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Maybe I missed it, but I was expecting more details of the actual event. Possibly at the base of the stairs, but we walked up the incline. Trees growing up around the periphery limit the view.
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Date of experience: July 2018
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