Welcome to Amherst (population: 10,000), Nova Scotia, a land rich with marshes, mountains and magnificent shorelines. This county on the Isthmus of Chignecto is your first stop crossing the border from New Brunswick. You are in for a treat and adventure around every turn. Exotic sounding Mi'kmaq name places such as Missaguash, Tantramar, Chignecto and Shubenacadie are along highways that take you by coastal sand beaches, shear cliffs above raging tides, rolling farmland or stands of trees clinging to the slopes of the Wentworth's Cobequid Mountain range. Stay and enjoy our hospitality as well as our legends, lore and lyrics. Travel through Amherst Marshes' fields of grasses swaying in gentle Fundy breezes. On rising ground above the marsh you will find the Shiretown of Amherst, spread across 16 lovely square kilometres. Amherst is a full service community providing accommodation, both downtown and mall retail shopping and services along with a regional hospital, town police and RCMP.


THINGS TO SEE AND DO:

Victoria Street is where the Glooscap and Sunrise Trails diverge. Before undertaking one of these scenic routes visit the downtown core and wander past a town block of heritage buildings. A brochure named the "Historic Downtown Amherst Walking Tour" is available at the Coach Car Visitors Information Center that will you on your excursion around the downtown core.

The Dominion Building, locals refer to as the old Post Office has commemorative plaques honouring Four of the Fathers of Confederation, Robert Barry Dickey, (1811-1903), Jonathan McCulley (1809-77), Sir Charles Tupper (1812-1915) and Edward Barron Chandler (1800-80) who came from the area.

On the corner of Victoria and Church streets across from Victoria Square is Pugsley's Pharmacy, the oldest pharmacy in Canada and also founded by Sir Charles Tupper, the sixth Canadian Prime Minister.

Each week in Victoria Court, 141 Victoria St. East, you will find the Amherst Farmers' Market where you can browse and shop for farm fresh produce, cultural food dishes, baked goods, preserve, folk art and a local potter displaying his wares. The Farmers Market is open on Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm.

Amherst gained recognition in the late 1800's when events in the community became public. "The Great Amherst Mystery" a classic tale of possession and exorcism at the time chronicled in local newspapers and more recently in a publication available in the town (at Amy's Used Books). These events seemed to be long forgotten until recently when two plays, one an accurate account and the other a spoof written by an Amherst playwright were performed in the area.

Many exquisite Victorian homes the Victoria Street and adjacent side streets, legacies of the great Industrial Era at the turn of the century. Before taking a driving tour around the town you can find a helpful town map and the "Heritage Homes of Amherst" brochure can be picked up at the Coach Car VIC.

"Busy Amherst" in the early 1900's was the home top manufacturers of pianos, textiles, shoes and boots, steel and even and automobile factory. Displays of the industrial and labour history are housed in the Cumberland County Museum, 150 Church Street. Once named Grove Cottage it was the home to Robert Dickey. The museum houses a large collection of documents relating to the county's history and culture. The archives offer researchers maps, photographs, a reference library, newspapers, census and cemetery records.

The Cumber land County Museum is a good place to start a genealogical research and to help local people in their research the museum will offer a genealogical workshop along with their heritage craft workshops.

While visiting the town check out the sporting events or for those theatre goers, check at the VIC or at community bulletin boards for presentations, the location and times. There is nightlife in the form of clubs, pubs and lounges. Don't be disappointed, don't miss the events!