Clifton Museum Park

05/27/2026

Are you ready for Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival this weekend? Every blossom has the potential to turn into an apple. Flowering and pollination are the first steps, helped by warm, sunny days. Natural dropping, harsh weather and animal damage limit how many will fully develop into fruit.

While most commercial apple trees are replaced after their peak producing years (about 30 years), some of the apple trees at Clifton Museum Park are over 100 years old. They enjoy a quiet retirement providing shade to picnickers, photo backdrops for proms and weddings, obstacles for disc golfers, and snacks for local wildlife.

For more information on apples join us for a free history walk through the park. Enjoy an easy walk around the trails and learn about the gypsum, apple trees, events, and people that shaped our area. July 8th, 6pm.

05/27/2026

We are so happy to be a part of this great event from West Hants Pride and the Windsor Township Business Association!

Put tea time in your calendar! We're having a Tea Party at Clifton Museum Park on June 7!

05/19/2026

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Today in Nova Scotia, we stand in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and reaffirm that everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety, and respect—free from discrimination, violence, and hate. We recognize the leadership, resilience, and contributions of q***r and trans communities across the province, from urban centres to rural and coastal communities.

This day is also a reminder that while progress has been made, there is still important work to do locally to address stigma, ensure access to affirming services, and create safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can belong and thrive. Government’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan, released in January, makes important commitments to support this work. To learn more, visit https://www.oeaengagement.ca/2slgbtqia-action-plan.

05/16/2026

This children's sleigh is a great example of how history was a lot more vibrant than we often imagine. Ceramics and glass keep their pigmentation, but paint, paper, textiles and wood can change dramatically. The original purple velvet upholstery would have made this quite a luxurious ride. Another secret revealed as we deep clean in preparation for opening June 3.

Image: Three photos of an antique wooden children's sleigh. The sleigh is shown from the side, with curving runners, brown velvet seat, medium brown wood and tall handle in the back for pushing. Two close ups show the underside of the seat cushion and a narrow strip where the back and arm of the seat meet. Both show dark purple velvet where the fabric has not been exposed to sunlight.

05/15/2026

Teachers and group leaders, now is the time to book your visit to Clifton Museum Park. We have lots of options for fun and learning indoors and out, including hands on activities, The Birthplace of Hockey Museum , disc golf course and more!

As part of the Hands-On History program, students take part in four stations that explore the history of Nova Scotia. A fun, interactive station is the 'Try Your Hand at Textiles' activity.

How is fabric made and who makes it? At the Try Your Hand at Textiles station, students will explore the world of textile creation through hands-on and object-based learning. Using replicas and working collection items, students will create yarn using a drop spindle, weave using a loom, and pass yarn through a spinning wheel. Students will discuss social class and industrialization, focusing on who would be making yarn and cloth.

Check out our website at https://clifton.novascotia.ca/learn and stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages over the coming weeks for more information. To book a class trip, email [email protected].

Image: Photo of a small wooden floor loom. The warp is made of blue and green yarn in stripes. A shuttle wound with green yarn sits on top, ready to weave.

05/14/2026

Lots of great options for free recreation equipment rentals in West Hants and the Annapolis Valley. Pick up some discs and enjoy the free disc golf course at Clifton Museum Park.

05/12/2026

Clifton has always been a popular inspiration for artists, from the Haliburton children in the 1800's to Plen Air groups today. Artist Annie L. Prat's name can be found on the first page of the first museum guestbook from 1939.

Step back into early 1900s Windsor, Nova Scotia, through Annie L. Prat’s delightful watercolour, 'Clifton: The Old Garden and Sundial.'

Painted from the library window, this piece captures a quiet garden scene that still exists today: lush trees, blooming foliage, and the weathered pedestal of a once-proud sundial (recently restored). https://collections.novascotia.ca/object-66-152-14

Prat, a Nova Scotia-born artist who trained in Chicago and later became the first Dean of Women at King’s College, left us this enduring look at Clifton. It is a beautiful reminder of how art preserves the stories rooted in our landscapes.

Clifton Museum Park opens for the season June 3, 2026.

05/11/2026

Wela'lioq to Sipekne'katik First Nation for this great video with helpful words you can learn in celebration of Mi'kmaw Language Day.

05/11/2026

Teachers and group leaders, now is the time to book your visit to Clifton Museum Park. We have lots of options for fun and learning indoors and out, including hands on activities, The Birthplace of Hockey Museum , disc golf course and more!

As part of the Hands-On History program, students take part in four stations that explore the history of Nova Scotia. One of the most popular stations is the 'Museum Exploration' activity.

The Museum Exploration program allows students to explore these two museums accompanied by Heritage Interpreters or individually at their own pace. Students will be welcomed into the museums and shown highlighted artifacts chosen by the interpretation team. There are also a variety of lawn games and toys that students can experience. This program is offered as part of the Hands-On History program and as a separate, complete program.

Check out our website at https://clifton.novascotia.ca/learn for more information. To book a class trip or to inquire further, email [email protected].

Image: Photograph of the center hallway of Clifton Museum. Tall walls are covered in white floral wallpaper. Wide green trim and baseboards contrast with the maroon carpet. A huge gold framed mirror hangs on the wall to the left, other gold framed sketches and photos to the right. A small wooden table with turned legs and a chair with curving legs and back sit in the hall. An arched doorway at the other end leads to a staircase and two levels.