Major's Hill Park

Major's Hill Park with the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and American Embassy in the background

Major's Hill Park is one of the most notable parks in downtown Ottawa. The park stands above the Rideau Canal at the point where it enters the Ottawa River. Across the canal to the west are the parliament buildings, to the north of the park is the National Gallery of Canada, and to the east are the United States embassy and the Byward Market. To the south is the Chateau Laurier hotel, built upon land that was once part of the park.

The neighborhood surrounding the park was once home to those who constructed the canal. In particular, the area that is now the park was the official residence of the Supervising Engineer of Canal Works and therefore home of Lieutenant-Colonel John By. The hill came to be known by his rank. However, in 1832 "Colonel's Hill" became Major's Hill when By was replaced by Major Daniel Bolton. The residence was destroyed by fire in 1849, though ruins survive to today.

The use of the area as a residence gives the park the rather unusual quality of remaining a green space since the early days of Ottawa. It is now managed by the National Capital Commission, which has placed historical information in the northwest corner of the park.

Due to its central location, Major's Hill Park is frequented all year round. It is frequently used as a venue for events, and is central to Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations.

Evolution of the park

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  An 1834 view of the canal locks, with a treed Colonel's Hill and Colonel By's residence at the left of the image

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  Major's Hill and the locks in 1861; the lockmaster's house (partially visible on the right side of the image) would be demolished when Major's Hill became a park in 1876

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  View of the south end of Major's Hill from Parliament Hill, circa 1860s; by this time, all but the northern portion of Major's Hill had been denuded of trees

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  The south end of Major's Hill in 1909, when the park still extended to Rideau Street and the Château Laurier had not yet been built

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  Aerial view from 1920; the federal government had permitted the construction of the Château Laurier on the south end of Major's Hill in 1909-12

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  By 1938, Major's Hill had evolved into a well-manicured urban park

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  Since 1988, the north end of Major's Hill has been framed by the new National Gallery of Canada building

External links

• Bytown Museum page with Hill historical information

Coordinates: 45°25′38″N 75°41′51″W / 45.427311°N 75.697496°W / 45.427311; -75.697496