The tour begins at Signal
Hill, the most recognizable and visible of the landmarks of St.
John's overlooking the harbour and virtually all of the city.
Cabot Tower - photo from Ben Hansen's,
Newfoundland and Labrador
It was from a spot just below the tower that Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal on December 12, 1901 ushering in the modern world of telecommunications.
In 1919 St. John's was the starting point for the race to fly the Atlantic Ocean because of its proximity to Europe. Several crews tried, but the honour of the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic went to Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten-Brown. Cabot Tower was the last North American landmark Charles Lindbergh saw on his solo flight to Paris in 1927. He flew right out between the hills of The Narrows, the aptly named gap that connects the harbour to the ocean.
Quidi Vidi Battery - photo from Ben Hansen's
St. John's, Newfoundland
Another site of historic interest in this area is the Quidi Vidi Battery
which overlooks Quidi Vidi Village at the eastern edge of St. John's.
Constructed by the French during their capture of St. John's in 1762, its
first life was a short one. The British won the last battle of the Seven
Years' War right here in St. John's just a short while later. The fort
was rebuilt in 1780 and manned by British forces until their withdrawal
from Newfoundland in 1870.
That was the year Newfoundlanders decided not to join Canada, and the
British pullout left no doubt of what the Imperial Government thought of
that decision. The fort was, ironically, restored in 1967 as one of many
projects undertaken to mark Canada's 100th birthday. After two ballots
Newfoundlanders narrowly voted to join Canada in 1949 on April first. The
fort's reconstruction was based upon plans of its layout as of 1812.
From here you can visit Quidi Vidi Lake the site of the Royal St. John's
Regatta which has been held since at least 1826 and is still run on the
first Wednesday in August (weather permitting). It is considered to be
the oldest continuing sporting event in North America. Sailing, canoeing,
kayaking and sailboarding are other popular activities that take place on
the lake.
On the far side of the lake you will see the old American base called Fort Pepperell, now called Pleasentville, and behind it the Bally Haly Golf and Country Club.
Bridge over Rennies River - photo from Ben Hansen's
Newfoundland and Labrador
There are hiking trails around the base and up to the summit of Signal Hill and down to Quidi Vidi Lake. From there posted signs will lead you up the Rennies River Hiking Trail. This Trail follows the river back up through the heart of the city up to the Freshwater Fluvarium and the C.A.Pippy Park, where the M.U.N. Botanical Garden is located. This 1,343 hectare park offers lots of hiking and cross country ski trails. A marvellous hike for the energetic.
In the western direction from Signal Hill is the downtown area of St. John's and is a great place to go exploring on foot. The current old city layout dates from 1892. That year most of the city was destroyed by fire for the third time in the nineteenth century. Wider, realigned streets laid out in a pattern to prevent the spread of fires from one area to another has been effective for the last century. But the plan was laid out with horse and cart and streetcars in mind. Streets that cut at an angle rather than going straight up and down made life easier for horses but potentially bewildering for modern tourists.
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