The spectators had no idea that 20 minutes later, the fire would trigger the largest manmade explosion to that date. Most canadians will have seen the heritage minute segment on television, depicting the heroism of vincent coleman, who died after sending a. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. Smith, on page 115, among the postcards of the ruins halifax and dartmouth, is the immense cloud of smoke caused by the explosion. Just minutes before, it had been an ordinary day in halifax and dartmouth, in nova scotia, canada. T he halifax explosion was caused when two ships collided in the narrowest part of halifax harbor on the morning of thursday, december 6, 1917 the ss mont blanc, a french ship was arriving from new york city filled with munitions for world war i in.
The two towns sit on the atlantic ocean and are separated by a narrow harbor. Every two weeks a page is turned, ensuring that each name is displayed once throughout the year. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. A new halifax podcast, minute women, explores the full canadian history behind the popular heritage minutes from historica canada. More nova scotians were killed in the explosion than were killed in wwi. Remembering the halifax explosion on the hundredth anniversary of the disaster, we look back at how some of the citys children miraculously survived. A new halifax podcast, minute women, explores the full canadian history behind the popular heritage minutes from historica canada by blending comedy and research. The events of the horrific halifax explosion are well documented. The heritage minutes collection is a bilingual canadian legacy project comprised of 60second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in canadian history. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. Both the macnabs island photograph and the cox bros. This is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a.
A reference copy at the museum is available for the public to. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. On the day of the explosion, there were a number of ships in bedford basin. The explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifaxhomeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly. Peter seixas for the historical thinking project, think like a historian. Few living people recall that the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the advent of the nuclear. Start reading the great halifax explosion on your kindle in under a minute. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people.
On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. The first illustrated book with fullcolour visuals giving a compelling account of the explosion and its aftermath. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. Book to shine light on shortage of female mlas in n. The heritage minutes collection is a bilingual canadian legacy project comprised of. The think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. The halifax explosion complements canadian school curricula from grades 4 to 12. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries.
The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. For more information about the halifax explosion visit the canadian encyclopedia. First released in 1991, they have been shown on television, in cinemas and online, and have become a part of canadian culture. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Toronto cartoonist joe shuster describes the comic book hero he created 1931. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. Halifax explosion train dispatcher vincent coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 4. The heritage minutes are a collection of bilingual canadian 60second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in canadian history.
They are produced by historica canada, the notforprofit organization that is also responsible for publishing this encyclopedia. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. Halifax explosion fiction meet your next favorite book. Halifax explosion train dispatcher vince coleman displays heroism during the disaster that took nearly 2,000 lives, including his own 1917 historica canada and christopher hemsworth creative have designed a series of limited edition heritage minutes. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the. It is not unreasonable to assume that preexplosion and explosion images, known and unknown, were taken onboard any number of these vessels. On the morning of december 6, 1917, the residents of halifaxs north end witnessed firsthand the terrifying destruction of the first world war when a fully loaded munitions ship collided with a larger relief ship, caught fire and then exploded in the harbour. This education guide gives students an introduction to the halifax explosion and working with primary sources. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917.
The heritage minute episode on the halifax explosion tied for the most popular in. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. And, in an excerpt from his new book, the halifax explosion. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. The book is displayed at the entrance to the museums halifax explosion exhibit halifax wrecked. The canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh. The halifax explosion has frequently been the subject of works of popular culture. Within the first few minutes, the fire alone would have already been a significant event. Rusins military response to the halifax explosion an overview of the crucial and underappreciated efforts of army and navy personnel in the aftermath of the explosion. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2. History by the minute, is a series of sixtysecond short films, each illustrating an important moment in canadian history.
Discussion 10 minutes connect the halifax explosion to the violence of the great war by explaining why the munitions ship was travelling to halifax, the teacher will discuss how the explosion caused a physical and emotional devastation of the home front not unlike the devastation of trench warfare as the halifax explosion. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football, including three and out, fourth and long, endzone, and bos lasting lessons, coauthored with michigan coach bo schembechler. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax. First released in 1991, the heritage minutes have been shown on television, in cinemas. The minutes integrate canadian history, folklore and myths into dramatic. Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the emotions of the people involved. Halifax explosion go to the website watch the historica minute. The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. In heart throbs of the halifax horror by stanley k. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the event, revisit our heritage minute about the halifax explosion and canadian hero, vince coleman. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion the think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. Nearly 2000 people died from the halifax explosion, many killed instantly from the blast. Bacons the great halifax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. That morning, the towns had been buzzing with activity. That famous heritage minute video where the doomed vincent. Heritage minutes, formerly known as historica minutes. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Kitz 4 times halifax explosion by graham metson 3 times too many to mourn by james mahar 3 times burden of desire harvest book by robert macneil 3 times miracles and mysteries. For more information about the halifax explosion visit the canadian. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917.