Pier 21 was Canada's primary immigration shed from 1928 until 1971, and it saw more than one million new Canadians walk through its doors from Europe, the British Isles, and beyond. The national museum here is one of the most moving in Canada. The exhibits combine oral histories, personal objects, and archival footage to tell the stories of people who arrived with little and built something in a new country. The immigration experience section — walking through the stages of the arrival process, medical inspections, customs, and the final release into a waiting country — is genuinely affecting.
The museum also holds a searchable database of arrivals, which means some visitors can find their own family records. There are permanent galleries on the voyages, the immigration halls, and the political history of Canadian immigration policy, plus rotating exhibits. The building sits at the southern end of the waterfront boardwalk, making it easy to combine with the Maritime Museum. Budget two hours for a proper visit. Entry is affordable by international museum standards.