Historic Charlottetown Small Group Walking Tour

The tour will first circle the park to cover the early history of the Island from the Mi’kmaq through the French to the English design of Charlottetown as the colonial capital.

As we walk up Great George Street, we will feature several buildings that tell the story of Charlottetown’s early years such as the Bank of Prince Edward Island, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Great George Hotel.

The story of St. Dunstan’s Basilica is tied to its first Bishop, Angus MacEachern. You will hear how this building is the fourth church on this site. We will look at some interesting carvings on the church exterior. When the building is open, we will give you the opportunity to see the grand interior.

Province House is the site of the Charlottetown Conference that led to Canadian Confederation. It is also the home of our provincial legislature. The tour does not enter the building.

We will learn the history and architecture of this memorial to the Fathers of Confederation. We will then enter the Centre for a mid-tour break.

We will stroll along this pedestrian section of Richmond Street with many opportunities for photographs showing the best examples of late Victorian architecture in the city.

As we stroll along Kent Street, we will talk about the city hall built in 1888 to house the fire station. Next door we will pass the modern fire station, and finally the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel.

A beautiful park with photo opportunities, Rochford Square is the boundary of Charlottetown’s Bog district. Here we will hear of the history of Charlottetown’s Black community.

Attached to the main cathedral is All Souls’ Chapel, a national historic site. We will enter the chapel view the art and architecture, the work of the Harris brothers.

“Fanningbank” has been the official residence to PEI’s Lieutenant Governor since its colonial days and has accommodated members of the royal family. You can pose for a photograph on the front verandah as did the Fathers of Confederation.

Built in 1877 as the finest home in the city, we will learn of its many occupants. We will pass many more beautiful houses with rich history and architecture as we make our way back to Water Street.