Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Justice
The Hill was known as Barracks Hill in the Bytown days that started when Colonel John By set foot in this part of the Nepean Township to supervise the construction of the Rideau Canal. Bytown emerged from this activity and its repercussions. By had recognised the Hill as being the choicest piece of real estate and had reserved it for the Crown. It became an obvious location for the parliament buildings when young Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the new capital of Canada in 1857. The construction of Centre Block (left), East Block (centre) and West Block (not visible) were announced 1858. These Gothic Revival buildings were constructed in 1859-1861 and 1863-1865, at which point the Hill received its first occupants. Construction of the rotund Parliament Library (far left) continued in the 1870's. The Centre block was entirely consumed by fire in 1916, a disaster mitigated only by the survival of the Library and its contents that is owed to Michael MacCormac, a clerk who closed the fire door before exiting t he blazing Centre Block.
The Centre Block was reconstructed, with the higher Peace Tower present today, in 1916-1917.
The Supreme Court of Justice, on the right, was built in 1938-1939 and replaces an earlier, much smaller building. A bronze replica of that building can be found in the entrance hallway of the Court.
Off-site links:
[ prev 5 ] [ Home ][ ottawa collection ][ next 5 ]