Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

The Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, commemorates the life and achievements of the renowned inventor. The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, including items from Bell’s personal museum, and offers exhibits on his scientific experiments and inventions. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Baddeck Bay and Beinn Bhreagh, Bell’s summer home, from the museum’s grounds. The site also features a museum store and café, providing a comprehensive experience for all ages.

Planning your visit

Bell spent his summers at Baddeck on Cape Breton for the last 35 years of his life, and the work he did there was not telephones. The museum covers the inventions of his later career: enormous tetrahedral kites capable of lifting a man, the Silver Dart, which made the first powered flight in the British Empire from the ice of Bras d'Or Lake in 1909, and hydrofoil boats — the HD-4 set a world water speed record in 1919, and its remains are displayed in the museum.

He also worked on medical devices, sheep breeding and desalination, and much of his time went to work with deaf people, which was his original professional field and his lifelong commitment.

The site looks across Baddeck Bay to Beinn Bhreagh, the headland where his house stands, still owned by his descendants and not open to the public. His grave is on the mountain.

The museum is free and holds material from Bell's own personal collection, given by the family.

Bookable options include heritage tours of Baddeck with the museum, and formats combining it with a Cabot Trail circuit — the coastal road around northern Cape Breton, which is the region's principal draw. Current availability is shown below.