The Highland Village Museum

Highland Village is situated in Iona, Nova Scotia in central Cape Breton and fits easily into any travellers Cape Breton vacation. Plan to spend a few hours immersed in Gaelic culture on our 40 acre site dotted with 11 historic buildings depicting life for Gaelic settlers in Nova Scotia. Experience our blacksmith working his forge, our costumed animators demonstrating spinning weaving, wool-dying, and other hand-crafts, our farm-hands working with traditional livestock, and much more. Smell the aromas of a meal cooking on an open hearth and feel a connection to our past as you make your way around our site and marvel at the panoramic viewscapes. As you roam through our 11 period buildings and wander over our grounds you’ll find much to see and do, and you will gain an understanding of the love our Gaelic Ancestors felt for this land, and the work and dedication required to make a life in this new home. Our costumed staff give an intimate understanding of the daily lives of our Gaelic ancestors, and give you an opportunity to see what life was like for the Scottish settlers from the mid 1700’s through to the early 1900’s. You will be welcomed into the past at our visitor centre, and from there, as you make your way through our outdoor pioneer life museum, you will walk forward through history from the humble beginnings of our Gaelic ancestors to ‘modern times’. We offer a wide range of Experiences and Events that are sure to make your visit to Highland Village a memorable one!