History Browser

Families from France first settled in Acadie in the 1630s. In the early 1680s, Pierre Melanson and Marguerite Mius d'Entremont and their children moved from Port-Royal to found Grand-Pré ...

Grassy Island Fort National Historic Site of Canada, located on Grassy Island, one of the Canso Islands, features the ruins of 18th century fortifications and the remains of a colonial New England fishing station that are the reminders of a thriving community that was once the commercial heart of Nova Scotia.

Grand-Pré National Historic Site of Canada commemorates Grand-Pré area as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755 and the Deportation of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued until 1762.

St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site is situated in the picturesque seaside resort of St. Andrews, in southwestern New Brunswick. Fearful of American invasion, townspeople built this blockhouse, to military specifications, during the War of 1812.

Both Britain and France needed strong navies to protect their coasts, fishing fleets and colonies. The peak of French naval power was during the 1690s, when it dominated the coasts of England. Defeated in 1692, the French navy declined in quality and strength from that point on.

By 1802, the war against France in Europe was in stalemate. Only Britain was left in the field. The British had triumphed at sea and in the colonies, but both sides wanted a pause, and a treaty was signed. In America, the British provincial regiments were quickly disbanded.

A small garrison of Troupes de la Marine arrived in Newfoundland in 1687, where fortifications were gradually established. The garrison suffered from desertion, and was attacked by pirates, English privateers and the English Royal Navy.

The Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site is located at the mouth of the Restigouche River, at the far end of Chaleur Bay. It is here that the last naval battle between England and France for possession of the North American continent took place. The site offers a guide for visitors, explaining a little of the history of this historic site, as well as the hours of operation and entrance fees.

Visitors to York Factory National Historic Site of Canada can experience the diverse history of the Hudson's Bay Company and the fur trade of the 1600-1800s.

Under both the French and the British, the residents of Les Mines exhibited a strong spirit of independence, made possible in part because of the distance separating them from the authorities at Port-Royal/Annapolis Royal.