Charlottetown, PEI
Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, was established as the colonial capital in 1764 and named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. Small and easily explored on foot, its historic center is filled with churches, government buildings, old homes and streets leading toward the waterfront.
Charlottetown holds a particularly important place in Canadian history. In September 1864, delegates from the Maritime colonies gathered here to discuss a possible union. Representatives from the Province of Canada joined them and proposed something much larger—a federation of the British North American colonies. The discussions that began in Charlottetown continued in Quebec and ultimately led to the creation of Canada in 1867.
That history earned Charlottetown its title as the “Birthplace of Confederation.” Ironically, Prince Edward Island declined to join the new nation in 1867, waiting until 1873 to become Canada's seventh province.
Recent Posts
The Kirk of St. James
While walking through Charlottetown, I photographed the Kirk of St. James, a beautiful sandstone Presbyterian church standing on Fitzroy Street. The building caught my attention, but its story reaches far beyond the congregation that worshipped here. It represents the enormous influence Scottish immigrants had on Prince Edward Island. Beginning in the late 18th century and […]
The Gainsford House
While walking along Water Street in Charlottetown, I photographed this substantial brick house without realizing just how old it was. Built between 1832 and 1834, the Gainsford House is the oldest surviving brick residence in Charlottetown and one of the city’s important links to its early 19th-century past. John and Elizabeth Gainsford built the house […]
St. Dunstan’s Basilica
Walking through Charlottetown, I could see the twin spires of St. Dunstan’s Basilica rising above the houses long before I reached the church itself. In my photograph, they seem almost to emerge from the neighborhood, towering over the smaller buildings along the street. At approximately 200 feet high, they remain among the highest points on Charlottetown’s skyline. […]
Beaconsfield Historic House
While exploring Charlottetown, we stopped at Beaconsfield Historic House, a beautiful Victorian home overlooking Charlottetown Harbour. Standing on its broad veranda and looking toward the water, it is easy to understand why this would have been one of the city’s most desirable places to live in the late 19th century. Beaconsfield was designed and built […]
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
While walking through Charlottetown, I photographed St. Paul’s Anglican Church. After seeing the soaring spires of St. Dunstan’s Basilica nearby, St. Paul’s presented a very different architectural presence. Its broad brick façade and Gothic window are comparatively restrained, but the congregation behind this church reaches back almost to the beginnings of British Charlottetown. When Prince […]
The Soldiers Monument
While walking through Charlottetown, we came across this monument to the men of the Royal Canadian Regiment who served in the South African War of 1899–1902. It immediately caught my attention because it commemorates a war that we rarely encounter on monuments at home in the United States. The reason is simple: the United States […]
Province House
Walking through the center of Charlottetown, it is difficult to miss Province House. The large sandstone building occupies a prominent place in the city, but its importance extends far beyond Prince Edward Island. This is one of the places where the idea of Canada began to take shape. Province House was constructed between 1843 and […]
Veterans Memorial
While walking through Charlottetown, we came across this striking monument showing three soldiers moving forward together. With Province House immediately behind it, the memorial sits among the buildings and streets where so much of Prince Edward Island’s political history has unfolded. The monument was originally erected in memory of Prince Edward Islanders who served and […]
The Railway
While walking through Charlottetown, I came across this old Railway Car Shop. At first, it seemed like another surviving industrial building, but the nearby interpretive panels revealed a much larger story. Prince Edward Island’s railway didn’t simply change how Islanders traveled. It helped change the political future of the Island itself. Before the railway was […]
The Peake-Carvell Building
While walking near the Charlottetown waterfront, we passed this large brick building at the corner of Queen and Water Streets. Today, part of it is occupied by Merchantman Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar, but the name “Carvell” still visible on the building hints at a much older story. It turns out that this building is a […]
The 1929 American LaFrance Fire Engine
While walking through Charlottetown, we passed the city’s fire station and found this magnificent old fire engine sitting outside. Its polished brass, open cab and brilliant red body immediately caught my attention. Unlike many pieces of historic firefighting equipment that have disappeared into museums, this one remains with the fire department whose earlier generations once […]
The Hotel Charlottetown
Walking through Charlottetown, we passed this large red-brick hotel on Kent Street. Its formal entrance, white columns and symmetrical façade make it look as though it belongs to an earlier era of travel. Originally known as the Hotel Charlottetown, it opened in 1931. It was built by the Canadian National Railway during an era when […]
