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Canada, usually visited by the people for its expansive, diverse, and stunning landscape and impressive natural wonders, does actually have a significant and rich history, and you’d be overjoyed to explore that.
Did you know about its diversity in history already? No? Don’t you worry about that now? Hurry up, pack your stuff, and get ready to explore because after going through the list given below, you won’t be able to resist your guts from delving into these stunning sites.
Historical Places in Canada
From vast monuments to palaces built by kings, we have everything in this list of historical places in Canada. Go through them now!
a) Dinosaur Provincial Park – Alberta
Located in Alberta, this land of awe for the nation as well as the whole world is one of the most important historical places in Canada.
As a UNESCO world heritage location, it is globally renowned for incredible fossil beds, so if you’re into geology or paleontology, this is a must on your vacation.
The provincial dinosaur park is about 80 square kilometers of badland environment, riverside riparian environment, and native grasslands.
There is a presence of an incredible diversity that includes some of the most important fossil specimens discovered from the “Age of Dinosaurs” period of Earth’s history.
Adding to its particularly beautiful scenery, its location at the heart of the province of Alberta’s Badlands, and its incredible opportunities to experience adventure and exploration, and discovery out in the outdoors of the Badlands attract many visitors from all around the globe.
One would be thrilled to bits just by imagining what it would be like to go back in time.
b) Fort Garry Hotel - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Could there be a more romantically breathtaking location for a wedding in Winnipeg than the iconic Victorian-style Fort Garry Hotel, Spa, and Conference Centre?
Opened on December 12th, 1913, this luxurious hotel was built when the Canadians were making the railway system across the country so that it was part of the national railway and so the idea at that time was that as people traveled across Canada by rail and this is that years ago there would be these beautifully styled properties that they could then go and stay in and so in every major city in Canada there was a railway hotel associated with a railway station.
And if you’re one of those people who are afraid of ghosts, then you may want to skip the Fort Garry Hotel as the infamous Room 202 is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman.
Still, those brave enough should surely visit this landmark and speak hello to one of the hotel’s friendly resident ghosts!
c) Halifax Citadel – Halifax, Nova Scotia
The present-day Halifax Citadel National Historic Site completed in 1856 is truly a masterpiece of authenticity, and it is still the same right down to the smallest detail, and this makes it so crucial among all the historical places in Canada.
Today the Citadel is anything but a simple museum and allows visitors to explore the history of the fortress and the soldiers who were stationed there.
Every single day, the Citadel comes back to life with the sounds of bagpipes and drums, the 78th Highlanders, the Royal Artillery (who dress in the same uniforms that their respective regiments wore in the mid-1800s) and others.
The Halifax Citadel is a living and breathing monument that showcases Canadian military history, starting with the First World War and its “Road to Vimy and Beyond” exhibit through to modern-day conflict.
Moreover, the skirl of the pipes, the beats of the drum, and the roar of the canon will definitely light up your spirits and give you Goosebumps!
d) Fortress of Louisbourg – Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Located on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, the Fortress of Louisbourg is, in a way, an unexpected treasure for visitors to Cape Breton.
This National Historic Site is one of the most critical sites in defining Canada as it is today. Therefore, this one deserves special mention in the list of the most significant historical places in Canada.
This site is like a door to the past, and so visitors experience a clear sense of what life was like in the 1700s through various displays, on-site translators (wearing a costume), and even a restaurant that serves traditional fare.
The Fortress of Louisbourg is a must-see stop amongst all the historical places in Canada, on any itinerary when visiting Nova Scotia.
This majestic site mesmerizes its visitors and makes them reminisce about the past. So, what are you still waiting for? So get ready for this fantastic tour!
e) L’Anse Aux Meadows – Newfoundland and Labrador
Discovered in the 1960s, L’Anse meadows are widely accepted to be the site of the first European contact in North America.
After several years of experience, it became pretty clear that this was the place where Vikings had landed and settled for a while.
According to the archaeological evidence, Norse explorers or Vikings, as they are more commonly known, established a camp there on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland, approximately 1000 years ago.
Back in 1964, it was really isolated, there was no road, no electricity, no telephone, and no radio, but now, this area has been designated the national historic site of Canada as well as the UNESCO world heritage site.
When visiting L’Anse meadows, you can witness first-hand the remains of the encampment as well as the full reconstruction complete with expert reenactors.
This remarkable archaeological site consists of eight timber-framed turf structures built in the same style as those found in Norse Greenland and Iceland from the same period.
f) Rideau Canal – Ottawa, Ontario
Situated in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, the 202 km long Rideau Canal with a beautiful chain of lakes, rivers, and canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a waterway connecting the Ottawa in Ontario with the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston Canal.
It is the most impressive work of engineering and architecture.
Unlike other Canals, this is not any ordinary waterway but is associated with a lot of history. So this reserved its spot in the list of most significant historical places in Canada.
It was opened in 1832 and holds the record of being North America’s oldest continuously operated canal system. Initially, the purpose of its opening was to prepare Canada for a potential war with the US.
Built for military purposes initially, it is now a perfect place for a day out canoeing or sightseeing.
Doesn’t really matter much if this is your first-ever visit or a hundredth, you’d continue to love it the same!
g) Prince of Wales Fort – Churchill, Manitoba
All Canadians are familiar with the Prince of Wales, and the next monument on the list of most significant historical places in Canada is related to him.
He took 40 years to build a Fort took, from 1731 to 1771, at the mouth of the Churchill River on Hudson Bay
. There were 40 cannons mounted within the embrasures right along the parapet and controlled the approach to the fort. The gate was protected from attack by a stone structure.
The fort stands as a significant memorial of this French-English competition for control of its sources and Hudson Bay.
In 1920, it was designated a National Historic Site by the Historical Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Cape Merry and Sloop Cove were added to the designation in 1933.
Were you planning a trip to Canada? Don’t forget to include this historic site on your list!
h) Canadian War Museum – Ottawa
This award-winning architectural design by Raymond Moriyama showcases not only the impact of war on the land but also nature’s ability to accommodate the physical devastation brought by human conflict and war, and this reserves its spot in the most important historical places in Canada.
The museum’s gallery and public programs have been designed in a way to emphasize the human experience of war and to show how through war conflict, conflict, and peace support operations, Canadians have affected and been affected by the world around them.
Four chronological galleries present Canada’s military history from the earliest times to recent conflicts.
Each gallery presents artifacts from the museum’s unparalleled national collection and showcases defining moments in Canada’s military history and how the events in the past events played a vital role in shaping the nation.
The Canadian war Museum offers a boutique with unique souvenirs and a wide range of military history literature and a riverfront cafeteria with an outside terrace.
A visit to the Canadian war museum is a truly humbling and unique experience that can be enjoyed by visitors of all generations, but don’t take my word for it. Come and see it yourself!
i) Quebec City – Quebec
The history of Quebec City traces its early existence to the 16th century.
For several hundred and thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans, the site of Quebec City was occupied by hunters and fishermen.
In addition to conserving ancient and ethnic traditions, the city remains a major center of French culture in North America.
The architecture of this ancient city reflects its historical character, which has been the subject of various significant restorations and has become the site of exceptional museums.
The town lets its visitors hark back to the past through multiple artifacts and sites, Place Royale is one of them.
It is the most historic square in the entire city and is called Royale because of the statue of Louis XIV present there, but that’s not what makes it so memorable.
Just off the square is the oldest stone church in North America. You can almost feel that 400-year-old history as you stroll the cobblestone square, but Place Royale isn’t the only section of Quebec City related to Champlain.
Walking through the Quartier Petit Champlain is really like stepping back in time to the shop’s taverns and homes of that early new French settlement!
If you’re interested in understanding its history, then you got to pay an extended visit to this place on the list of most significant historical places in Canada.
j) Terry Fox Memorial – Thunder Bay, Ontario
The Terry Fox Memorial, as the name itself, suggests, was built in the beloved memory of probably one of the most well-known Canadian icons, recognized nationally and all around the world.
This place (amongst all the most significant historical places in Canada) is on every Canadian’s Wishlist as it honors the great Canadian athlete and cancer research activist Terry Fox.
Visiting this place, you can’t help but be extremely overwhelmed by this man’s never-ending endeavor to make the world a better place to live in.
His humanitarian approach inspired generation after generation to raise funds to improve the lives of cancer patients, not only in Canada but all around the globe.
Due to his tireless striving, hundreds and thousands of dollars have been raised until now to remove misery and pain from every single corner of this bleak world!
This is what makes this historical monument so unique and probably one of the most emotional and inspirational in all of Canada.
Last Updated on by riyaspeaks
