HMCS Haida National Historic Site

Along Hamilton Harbour's Pier 8 is His Majesties Canadian Ship (HMCS) Haida National Historic Site, floating much like it did in Toronto near Ontario Place before it was spruced up and moved to Hamilton. And Hamilton Harbour itself is also being beautified with great multi-use paths, parks, restaurants, marinas and other attractions.

A memorial for the port crane sits beside the ship

The large warship was made during WWII and later took part in the Korean and Cold Wars, serving Canada from 1943 to 1963 before it was decommissioned and became the ceremonial flagship of the Canadian Navy. The series of destroyers were made for Britain (where they were designed and built), Canada and Australia with 13 sunk during the Second World War.

From the ship's website, "HMCS Haida is Canada’s “most fightingest ship,” the first-ever ceremonial flagship of the Royal Canadian Navy, and the last of the twenty-seven tribal class destroyers in the world. Canada’s most famous warship served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1963, participating in the Second World War, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War. HMCS Haida is now a Parks Canada National Historic Site docked in Hamilton, Ontario. As a museum ship, she now serves as a place to remember, explore, and connect. HMCS Haida began service escorting supply convoys to Murmansk, in Russia, above the Arctic Circle. Convoys were run in winter, when there is almost constant darkness, to make it more difficult for the German Lufftwaffe to spot them and direct submarine wolfpacks to attack. HMCS Haida and the ship's men earned their first battle honour, an honourary distinction recognizing active participation in battle for this Arctic service, during which the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst was sunk."

After a long period of distinguished service Haida was decommissioned from the Navy in 1963 and a private group turned the vessel into a museum ship beside Ontario Place. The ship was bought by the Ontario Government in 1970 and it was later transferred to Parks Canada in 2002, refurbished and moved to Hamilton. The floating museum opened in 2004 as a Parks Canada National Historic Site and for less than $5 you can visit the ship yourself.

See more of the ship after the jump.

The Queen, God Bless Her oak casks

Live fire demonstration of the Lee Enfield service rifle

Tours are available from 10am to 5pm (last ticket sold 4:15pm) mid-May to mid-Sept and within the periods from opening to the end of August (Wednesdays to Sundays) you can watch historic weapons demonstrations at 11am and 3pm, the noon day gun firing of the twin 4 inch guns and at 1pm they sound the ship's siren.

Related Posts by Categories

Widget by Hoctro | Jack Book