The Halifax Town Clock stands on the lower slope of Citadel Hill, a landmark so distinctive it has become the unofficial symbol of the city. The three-storey wooden tower, designed in 1799, houses a clock mechanism installed in 1803 that has been running ever since. The clock face is visible from much of the lower city and waterfront. It marks the boundary between the old military reservation of the hill and the civilian city below.
The clock is not open to the public, but it makes an excellent landmark for orientation and photographs. It sits along the main path ascending Citadel Hill from the bottom, so most visitors pass it on the way up to the fort. The surrounding lawns offer a good view up toward the ramparts and a fine vantage point looking down over the old part of Halifax toward the harbour.