<<

Nova Scotia National Historic Park

o o o o o id 0) to m 5 ai'iël riiSiûiy , or Port Royal as it was Alarmed by numerous privateering at­ was renamed Annapolis Royal in honour called by the French, is located at the con­ tacks on their ships and by French-inspired of Queen Anne and became the official fluence of the Allain and Annapolis Rivers Indian raids, the colonies British capital of . in Nova Scotia. It occupied an important attempted to destroy the Acadian settle­ Until 1749 the British governors, aided by place in the early history of as the ments. Port Royal, as the French capital of a rag-tag garrison of regular troops and seat of government in Nova Scotia for part , suffered many attacks and changed New England provincials, and supported by of both the French and English regimes. hands several times before 1690. By 1700, the government of Massachusetts, at­ The first Port Royal settlement, estab­ however, the French colonists were receiv­ tempted to maintain a British presence in a lished by the French in 1605, was not built ing somewhat better support from France, province populated by and in­ here, but on a site five miles down the and were constructing a substantial fort- filtrated by French raiding parties from (where Port Royal National the present one - at Port Royal. New and . Their task was Historic Park is now located). This settle­ England forces attacked the new fort twice made none the easier by crumbling fortifi­ ment was destroyed in 1613 by the English in 1707, but were repulsed by the garrison cations, poor morale among the troops, under Samuel Argall of Virginia. Nova under the able and energetic Governor, frequent ambushes outside the fort, and Scotia was returned to the French by treaty Daniel Auger, Sieur de Subercase. general indifference to their plight on the in 1632. By 1635 the French Governor, In 1710 mainland Nova Scotia, including part of the authorities at home. The garrison Charles de Menou d'Aulnay, had built a new Port Royal, was captured for the last time was poorly fed; the soldiers were ill-paid, if Port Royal, not on the old site down river, when Colonel Francis Nicholson the former at all; and the officers - when they were but on the site of the present town of Anna­ Governor of , laid to the not quarrelling-frequently had to pool their polis Royal. Between 1635 and 1710 other town and fort with a mixed force of New own money to support their troops. Never­ French settlements sprang up throughout England troops and British marines. theless, the beleaguered garrison defended the area of present-day Nova Scotia, New Subercase held out for two weeks, but lack the fort and town against several French Brunswick, and to of food for his soldiers and their families, attacks; and although they could not induce create a vaguely defined territory known and the constant rain of artillery shells the Acadians to take an outright oath of as Acadia. finally forced him to surrender. Port Royal allegiance to the Crown, succeeded in

Brief history obtaining at least their neutrality. 1 Road and entrance. belief, the was not designed to hold In 1749 the British established Halifax as 2 Northeast . A bastion is a project­ water. the provincial capital and built a military ing part of a designed to 15 Covert way. A road approximately 30 base there to counterbalance the strong defend the adjoining walls. The northeast feet wide and protected by a small parapet French fortress and settlement at Louis- bastion was called the Bastion Dauphin by ran all around the outer perimeter of the bourg. The fort at Annapolis Royal dwindled the French and accommodated a bake­ ditch. In time of seige, troops manned the in importance to the status of a military house and blacksmith's forge. During the road to defend the approach to the fort. , and by the end of the Seven Years' English regime, carpenters' shops and gun­ War in 1763 was garrisoned by only a small ners' quarters were also located here. The museum building detachment. It became a scene of activity 3 Road and exit. The museum building is a reconstruction once more in the 1790's when Prince 4 Northeast . A ravelin is a triangular of the officers' quarters built in 1797 as part Edward, Duke of Kent, was Commander-in- protected by a ditch and placed of the improvements ordered by Prince Chief of the British forces in Canada. in front of curtain walls for their protection. Edward, Duke of Kent. The original building Prince Edward ordered repairs to the fort The northeast ravelin was built by the had deteriorated beyond repair by the and installed a larger garrison as part of British in 1747 to protect the fort from land­ 1930's, and only small sections could be his policy of increasing British military ward attack. incorporated in the reconstruction. The strength in Nova Scotia. The last detach­ 5 Southeast bastion, built by the French original layout of the rooms has been pre­ ment of troops was withdrawn in 1854. and called the Bastion du Roy. served, and where interior woodwork and In 1917 the old fort was transferred from 6 South ravelin, built by the British in 1747 other fittings were replaced, the original the Department of Militia and Defence to to protect the fort from landward attack. designs were reproduced. the National Parks Service, and became 7 Southwest bastion, called the Bastion de The main floor of the museum building is one of Canada's first national historic Berry by the French, it covered the ap­ occupied by administrative offices, a library, parks. It is now maintained by the National proach to the fort from the Allain River. and the museum proper. On the other floors Historic Sites Service of the Department of 8 Powder magazine, originally constructed are rooms devoted to maps, ships, Indians, Indian Affairs and Northern Development. by the French in 1708. For protection, the natural history of the area, and miscel­ walls were sunk into the southwest bastion. laneous exhibits. What to look for The entrance-way has been changed The present Fort Anne was built by the considerably from 1708 but the building French between 1695 and 1708, and in­ itself has retained its original form. corporates later additions made by the 9 Sally port, built about 1750 on the site of British. Its construction was based on a sys­ an earlier French gate. tem perfected by the great French engineer 10 West ravelin. The oldest ravelin of the Vauban, and consisted of a four-bastion three in the fort, and the only one built earthwork surrounded by a dry ditch and during the French period. protected on the west by a ravelin. Located 11 battery. Here are the faint re­ at the confluence of the Allain and Anna­ mains of a battery built by the French and polis Rivers, the fort was intended primarily rebuilt by the British. Guns mounted in a to guard against naval attack, and the barbette battery fire over the parapet rather weakness of its landward defences plagued than through (apertures in both its French builders and their British the wall). successors. In the mid-1740's, when French 12 Northwest bastion, built by the French attacks were an annual occurrence, the and called the Bastion de Bourgogne, it British strengthened the fort by adding two guarded the approach from the Annapolis detached to guard against attacks River. from the landward side. 13 Underground storehouse, used as a The only surviving original buildings are storehouse by the French and as an the storehouse in the northwest bastion and armoury by the British. the powder magazine in the southwest 14 Dry ditch. This obstacle surrounding the bastion. The museum building is a recon­ fort formed an important part of its de­ struction (1940) of the officers' quarters, fences. It was widened by the British on the originally built in 1797. west and south sides when the two ravelins (see map) were added in 1747. Contrary to popular

What to look for National Historic Parks & Sites 12 hort George, () At Niagara-on-the-Lake, 26 Grand Pré, (Nova Scotia) Chapel and main fortification built 1797-1801; reconstructed museum stand near the village where the prin­ 1 Dawson City, (Yukon Territory) Centre of the 1937-1940 by Niagara Parks Commission; declared cipal events in the expulsion of the Acadians Klondike Gold Rush, Palace Grand Theatre and National Historic Park, 1969. took place. riverboat S.S. Keno preserved as national historic sites. 13 Queenston Heights, (Ontario) Site of major 27 Halifax , (Nova Scotia) Nineteenth-century American invasion, critical battle and American stone fortress, one of the largest in North 2 Fort Rodd Hill, (British Columbia) Nineteenth defeat during . Monument to Major- America, contains three spacious museums re­ century British coastal fortification with historic General Isaac Brock killed during the repulse. lating to Canada's naval, military and provincial Fisgard Lighthouse nearby. history. 14 Bellevue House, (Ontario) At Kingston, home of 3 Vancouver, (British Columbia) The schooner, the first prime minister of Canada, Sir John A. 28 Prince of Wales , (Nova Scotia) At St. Roch, first vessel to navigate the Northwest Macdonald. Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, built by British Passage from West to East; built in 1928 for the between 1796-1798. Modified in 1862 to provide R.C.M.P.'s Arctic patrol service; exhibited at the 15 Fort Wellington, (Ontario) At Prescott, defence powder magazine, armament, four machicolation Vancouver Maritime Museum. post built between 1812-1814, with galleries and parapet at roof level. Tower is last dating from 1839, and museum. remaining example of this style of 19th-century 4 Fort Langley, (British Columbia) A partial recons­ fortification in Nova Scotia. Several exist in truction of palisaded Hudson's Bay Company post 16 Coteau-du-Lac, (Québec) Late 18th-century British Quebec and Ontario. of 1850's. military post and site of first canal on the St. Lawrence River at Coteau-du-Lac. 29 York , (Nova Scotia) Begun in 1793 by the 5 Fort Battleford, (Saskatchewan) North West British to defend the port of Halifax, it had a Mounted Police Post built in 1876 in the territory 17 Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Birthplace, (Québec) House battery of eight 24-pounder guns. Remains of of the Crée Indians. Original buildings house at St. Lin des Laurentides where Canada's foundations for 30-foot stone martello tower and interesting museum collection and are sur­ seventh prime minister was probably born. other defence-works built since 1798 may be seen. rounded by a log . Most structures date from the 1880's when defences 18 , (Québec) Fort first built by French were modernized. 6 Batoche Rectory, (Saskatchewan) Headquarters of in 1665 was destroyed by fire and rebuilt between the Metis during the North West Rebellion of 1709-1711. It was occupied by the Americans and 30 , (Nova Scotia) The French 1885 at Duck Lake. British. At Chambly, about 19 miles southeast outpost on the Atlantic coast built after 1713 of Montreal. Treaty of Utrecht. In 1720 work began on the 7 Fort Prince of Wales, (Manitoba) The most north­ defences and a sizeable town was built within its erly fortress on the North American continent 19 Fort Lennox, (Québec) On lle-aux-Noix in the walls. Restoration of buildings and some massive built by the Hudson's Bay Company between Richelieu River near St. Jean, an island fort, first defences reconstructed to the 18th-century period. 1733-1771. Opposite Churchill. built by the French in 1759, rebuilt by the British, About 23 miles south of Sydney. 1776-1782. The present fort dates from 1819-1829. 8 Lower Fort Garry, (Manitoba) Stone fort built by 31 Alexander Graham Bell Museum, (Nova Scotia) the Hudson's Bay Company between 1831-1839. 20 St. Andrews Blockhouse, (New Brunswick) At A large museum of original design at Located on west bank of Red River about 20 miles St. Andrews, only remaining defence-work of a contains extensive collection of relics of experi­ north of Winnipeg. series of and batteries built by ments in many scientific fields by Bell and his civilians against American . associates. 9 Fort Maiden, (Ontario) At Amherstburg, museum buildings, and earthworks of defence post first built 21 Carleton Martello Tower, (New Brunswick) At Saint 32 Fort Amherst, (Prince Edward Island) At Rocky in 1797-1799, destroyed by the Americans, 1813, John, built during War of 1812. With the addition of Point across the harbour from , site rebuilt 1819-1823. a concrete superstructure, Tower became part of of Port La Joye, French settlement of 1720, captured city's war defensive fire control center during by the British in 1758. Earthworks of British fort 10 Woodside, (Ontario) At Kitchener, the boyhood World War II. built there still visible. home of William Lyon Mackenzie King, tenth prime minister of Canada. 22 , (New Brunswick) Site of major 33 Hill, () Ruins of harbour French fort in area, 1750-1755; captured by the begun by the French at Placentia 11 "Navy-Hall", (Ontario) At Niagara-on-the-Lake, built British in 1755; defended against the Americans in about 1662. Interpretation centre. in 1817 as commissariat store. Located on site of 1776. Near Sackville. earlier naval compound, built 1775-1778; hence the 34 Signal Hill, (Newfoundland) Rocky headland at traditional name "Navy Hall". 23 Fort Gaspereau, (New Brunswick) Near Port Elgin entrance to St. John's harbour. Site of numerous on Baie Verte, square with blockhouse at early fortifications and the last battle during the each corner, built by French in 1750 to defend Seven Years' War in . Includes Acadia (New Brunswick); burnt by British in 1756. John Cabot Memorial Tower. Remains of parade square and ditch may be seen.

24 Port Royal, (Nova Scotia) Restoration of "Habita­ tion" or first fort built in 1605 by Champlain, DeMonts and Poutrincourt.

(25)Fort Anne, (Nova Scotia) At Annapolis Royal, well-preserved earthworks of fort built by the French, 1695-1708, and enlarged by the British, 1710-1750. The museum building is a reconstruc­ tion of the Officer's Quarters built in 1797.

Published by the National and Historic Parks Branch Prepared by the National Historic Sites under the authority of Service and the Conservation Group, Hon. Jean Chrétien, PC, MP © Queen's Printer for Canada, Ottawa, 1969 Office of the Public Information Adviser. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Catalogue No. R 64 — 3870 Design: Gottschalk+Ash Ltd.