Musquodoboit Valley - Historic Sites and Museums

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Historic Sites/Museums

Moose River Gold Mines

Musquodoboit Valley Historic Sites & Museums

Moose River Gold Mines

On Easter Sunday, April 12, 1936 disaster struck the Moose River Gold Mines. Three men, Dr. D. Edwin Robertson, Alfred Scadding and Herman Magill, went into the mine to explore and were trapped 150 feet below the earth’s surface for 10 days – only two survived. (Magill didn’t survive the ordeal).

Frank Willis, of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission made the first live reports to million listeners from the disaster scene.

Thanks to the dedication of community volunteers and the Musquodoboit Valley Tourism Association, a park and museum have been established to share this community’s history with visitors.

The Moose River and Area Gold Mines Museum provides detailed information about the 1936 disaster and has numerous artifacts on display illustrating the mining history in this area and Nova Scotia.

Nearby, at the Moose River Gold Mines Provincial Park, there is a cairn erected in honour of the crew of draegermen from the Stellarton mines who had risked their lives to reach the entombed men. more info>>

Markland - Icelandic Settlement

In the mid 1800s, the Nova Scotia government lured immigrants from Iceland to settle here. Between 1875 and 1882 Markland, near Caribou, Icelandic families tried to carve out a new life in the barren wilderness.

Thanks to the effort of the Icelandic Memorial Society, their stories have been captured and published. In the decade since the Society began to uncover this little-known Icelandic community, foundations for most of the original homesteads have been located, pathways have been cleared to the site and have been marked with historical plaques both in Icelandic and English.

A memorial cairn has been erected at the entrance to the settlement, built of rocks gathered from the 30 homesteads and topped with a rock shipped from Iceland.

The society has published the English translation of a book written by one of the first settlers, entitled Markland-Remembrance of the Years 1875-1881. They also produced an educational film and a CD entitled: The Story of Markland. Research continues on family histories and plans are underway to build a replica of a log cabin on one of the sites.

Cemetery Records

Cemetery records are available for Old Pioneer Cemetery, Hillside Cemetery, and Riverside Cemetery at Middle Musquodoboit Pastoral Charge web site.

Dean Cemetery

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Waddya know...?

Locals enjoy telling visitors how Musquodoboit got its name. According to legend, (because this area was originally enjoyed by Mi’kmaq), a native was riding his horse named Dobit, and had to cross the river. The horse balked and refused to cross the water. The rider insisted and yet, the horse refused. In frustration, the rider said, “We’re late. Mus-go-dobit!”