Category: Historic Sites
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Bellevue House: A Multi-Faceted Experience for Everyone
Written by: Rachel Hamilton How do you solve a problem like Canadian history? Bellevue House has endeavored to provide an answer. History is created by people – complex, complicated people who attain incredible achievements and make horrific mistakes. Sir John A Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister, lived at Bellevue House for thirteen months between 1848…
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Murney Tower’s Connection to the Republic of Genoa
When I visited the Murney Tower before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was only vaguely aware of its Mediterranean connection. Recently, I’ve looked into the details. It’s tied to the Republic of Genoa, which was a maritime republic from the 11th century to the late 18th century, based in what is now the northwestern coast of…
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The Founding of the Hotel Dieu Hospital
In 1841, Kingston’s Bishop Remigius Gaulin wrote to Bishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal asking him to allow the Sisters of the Hotel Dieu of Montreal, the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (RHSJs), to found a hospital in Kingston to care for the increasing number of poor Irish Catholics who settled in the city following the…
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Social Distancing at the Cataraqui Cemetery
At a time when we are constantly reminded of the rising death toll of COVID-19, it may seem strange to do a cemetery walk. Spring may be beckoning us outdoors, but do we really want to explore a cemetery? “Yes” is the answer. On a mild, spring day, I enjoyed a walk in the gorgeous…
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There’s more to the RMC grounds than you’d expect
With the sun shining brightly, I set off with photographer Sean McEvoy to explore the grounds of the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston. Having visited before, I knew that this was really two trips in one. The first trip was taking us to the site of the Royal Naval Dockyard, significant for its role…
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Cataraqui Cemetery
By Emily Manson The Cataraqui Cemetery is a lovely place for a long meandering stroll or a contemplative rest. It’s filled with beautiful trees, ponds and ravines. Many notable Kingston residents are buried here. The cemetery was established in 1850, in a time period when rural cemeteries were being founded across North America and were…
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Canada’s Penitentiary Museum
Written by Emily Manson I’ve been to Canada’s Penitentiary Museum a few times, but I learn something new each time I visit. The site is small but picturesque and packed with fascinating history. It is located directly across the street from Kingston Penitentiary, in the former Warden’s residence. The building of a house for the…
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Fort Henry – Experience 19th Century Military Life!
Published by Iris Russak Fort Henry is a National Historic Site right here in Kingston! I am so glad we have finally visited – it was really worth our while and we ended up spending the better part of a day exploring. The fort that you are visiting today is the 2nd fort built on…
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Algonquin Storytelling at Bellevue House National Historic Site
Published by Iris Russak On a lovely Saturday afternoon, for once completely unscheduled, I took the opportunity to hop on over to Bellevue House and learn more about local aboriginal history through their Aboriginal Storytelling program with Tim Yearington. Tim Yearington is a Métis person of French-Canadian-Voyageur and Algonquin ancestry. His ancestors are from the…
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Fairfield House in Amherstview, on the Shores of Lake Ontario
By Clara Columbus, Photography by Susanna Gordon Published by Iris Russak The story of Fairfield House begins during the American Revolution. The Fairfields were a family of Vermont farmers who remained loyal to the British Crown as tensions rose and the rebels gained power. William Fairfield fled to Canada in 1778, leaving behind his wife,…
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What’s Behind These Walls? The Lower Burial Ground!
Published by Iris Russak Most of us have likely walked by this hidden treasure located on Queen and Montreal Street. The cemetery has caught my attention many times, and each time I thought to myself ‘I need to come back and check this out with some time on my hands’. Just recently, when being stopped…
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Murney Tower – A UNESCO World Heritage Site In Our Own Backyard
Published by Iris Russak It was a great privilege to spend a couple of hours on a warm and sunny spring morning with the Curator of the Murney Tower, Danielle. It was a good thing she had given me a heads up to bring a sweater – it stays quite cool on the inside of…
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Share Your Family Story – South Frontenac Museum
Published by Iris Russak The most recent stop on our Tour of Kingston Museums was the South Frontenac Museum in Hartington. For those of you not familiar with the location, you will find the museum next to the Hartington branch of the public library on Road 38, just up from Harrowsmith. It is a short…
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The Kingston Trolley Tour Experience
Listen to the tales of Kingston’s historic past as you discover Canada’s first capital by Trolley. Kingston Trolley Tours depart outside of the Visitor Information Centre across from Kingston City Hall in the heart of downtown Kingston. The combined narration between the GPS-triggered narration system and your experienced tour guide gives you the best local…
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Kingston Pen Tours
The Kingston Penitentiary offers a unique opportunity to explore behind the fortified walls and go behind the cell doors of the most notorious prison in Canada. The 90-minute walking tour takes you through the grounds of the infamous maximum-security prison. Kingston Pen housed a substantial number of high profile Canadian inmates and now is your chance…