On September 15, 1773, approximately two hundred Highland Scots arrived aboard the Ship Hector. This began a wave of Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia that would last for decades. The settlers' perseverance as they sought the freedom of possessing and thriving on their own piece of land made them a fundamental part of Canada's history. Against great odds they built communities and raised families. On hearing tales from the first settlers, thousands of Scottish immigrants soon followed to this land of New Scotland. The Hector Heritage Quay and Ship Hector Replica are a testament to their courage and Nova Scotia's ties to the culture of Scotland. It is fitting that this heritage be celebrated in Pictou, "The Birthplace of New Scotland."
In 1989 the Town of Pictou formed the Pictou Waterfront Development Corporation to manage an extensive revitalization of the Pictou Waterfront. Construction of a Ship Hector replica was a major component of this project. The original Hector was built in Holland and belonged to a class of vessel known as a Boot Ship. Reconstruction methods of the Ship Hector are in harmony with the ship building methods used on the original Boot Ships. The keel of the Ship Hector replica was laid in August 1990 and the vessel was launched on September 16, 2000.