Admiralty House was taken over by the Canadian government in 1905 as Canada took responsibility for the Halifax Dockyard from the British Royal Navy . In World War I it served as a naval hospital . The roof was blown in by the Halifax Explosion on December 6 , 1917 . Despite the damage , hospital staff , many of them injured themselves , treated many wounded in the house in the hours after the explosion . After repairs , the house was used as a clinic by the Massachusetts Halifax Relief Commission to assist survivors after the explosion . From 1925 to 1954 it became part of the Royal Canadian Navy base HMCS '' Stadacona '' , serving as a Wardroom Officer 's Mess and later as office space . In 1961 it became the library for the Royal Canadian Navy and provided classroom space
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
Naval Museum of Halifax