Timeline
Website Design and Content
© by Eric Krause, Krause House
Info-Research Solutions (© 1996)
Concept: Margaret Carter, Heritage Research Associates Inc.
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Parks Canada Unless Otherwise Designated
Researching
the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada
Fortress of Louisbourg Timeline Site
Louisbourg Souvenir Edition - Booklet
1980
TODAY - ONE LIMB ALIVE
Although Louisbourg
historian Senator J.S. McLennan had always claimed there was "abundant
material for an amost complete reconstruction of the town and its
fortifications",[1]
no one actually
envisionned such an occurrence during McLennan's lifetime. Just such a project did, however, begin in
1961.
The 1960s brought
different times. Canadians of the post
war era were committed to the idea that every citizen, regardless of geographic
location, had a right to "participate in Canada's economic development and
receive from his participation his fair share of rewards".[2] Just how this was to be accomplished became
an issue when the Canadian economy slumped as Europe began to recover from
wartime hardship in the late 1950s. The
Rand Commission on Coal (1960) was appointed to investigate potential. It concluded that "the coal mining
industry in Cape Breton cannot continue to be the backbone of the economy of
the region."[3] ersification was the answer. The
Commission recommended that agriculture, fishing and tourism be expedited to
provide a new economic underpinning. Development of "one of Eastern
Canada's most scenic attractions",[4]the Cabot Trail, followed a Rand Commision recommendation. Escalation of work on the Louisbourg project
followed another.
In 1961 the Government
of Canada agreed to fund a symbollic reconstruction of Louisbourg's fortress
"to provide work for unemployed coal miners, to give a boost to the
tourism industry, and to inspire the region culturally and
intellectually."[5] While few Cape Bretoners took the project
seriously, all recognized it was in the southern part of the island where the
majority of the population was located.
Once undertaken, the reconstruction of Fortress Louisbourg absorbed twenty-five million dollars and
continued for the next twenty years. It
has been described as "the greatest restoration project in North
America."[6]
The revival of Fortress
Louisbourg was based on formal professional processes. Indeed, "The re-creation of an almost
totally destroyed fortress was and is an undertaking of such magnitude that
many of its aspects have served as an invaluable testing ground for techniques
that have high relevance to future restorations of Canada's past."[7]Historians travelled to Paris, London and Boston to collect original documents
and plans, and engineers pored over them to attempt to understand 18th century
practice. Archaeologists carefully
excavated the site to confirm,
deny or expand on the recorded
information. By the time they were
finished, they had created a major historical and archaeological data base on
18th century life and rebuilt over a quarter of the original fortified town.
Today Louisbourg is a
popular tourism site. Visitors from around the world enjoy stepping into the
living past. The cannon booms at noon, and drum rolls call costumed soldiers to
attention. Tourists stroll through
eighteenth century houses where women cook, spin and tend gardens. The buildings, their surroundings, period
furnishings and inhabitants all create a special eighteenth century environment
where today's visitors link with the past.
As one enthusiastic visitor commented in 1974, "Louisbourg is a
staggering eyeful, a rare experience no matter how much travelling one has done. And it is right here in Canada."[8]
While historical
reconstructions like the fortress may now be out of fashion, the thoroughness
of the preservation methods developed at Louisbourg have set standards for a
Canadian heritage industry that is respected around the world. At Louisbourg, Canadians learned to
reproduce 18th century artifacts using the methods of the time, creating a
range of specialty products that are sold to 18th century heritage sites in
many countries. Ironically, this
reproduction industry and Fortress Louisbourg tourism -- which today has
visitation figures of ** a season --
now sustains the town. As an example of
Canadian creative innovation, Louisbourg is a resounding success!
Map Content
Aerial photo - or Rolph's map of site without ghosting
Illustrations
Ad - "Louisbourg's Progress has a Two-Fold Base", Cape Breton Post, 7 April 1967, p.4.
This ad was placed by the Town of Louisbourg to promote industrial redevelopment in a changing time. Note that the fishing industry was still considered the most credible form of employment.
Lab photo
"Pieces of ceramics are washed and spread out on tables like enormous jig saw puzzles. There may be anywhere from 15-50 pieces in a vessel that must be fitted together,"[9]noted one author who was obviously fascinated with Louisbourg's archaeological investigations. During the 1960s, the on-going restoration was itself an entertainment for tourists.
Chateau St. Louis
Louisbourg's centrepiece, the 360 foot long Chateau St. Louis, was scheduled to open during Canada's Centennial. It was an appropriate focus for national pride. "About the whole project there is an air of rediscovery and national self-respect, derived from the knowledge that we will not allow significant parts of a national heritage to slip from sight and memory."[10]
Miner - close-up / Also men working on the walls
Miners displaced from the Cape Breton coal industry provided the labour for rebuilding the site. While they worked, they were retrained for a new role in the labour market. Some learned 18th century wood and stoneworking techniques which they continued to use at the fortress, but others learned the modern electrical, heating and plumbing trades required to ensure the reconstructions were safe.[11]
Postcard life image
Fortress Louisbourg invites visitors to take part in 18th century life by recreating an environment rich in everyday occurrences. Here, ** describe
Overview of the site
One archaeologist described Louisbourg as "a giant time capsule. For 40 years, during an important period of history, it saw intense occupation....then, suddenly it was sealed off and left abandoned for 200 years. Louisbourg is unique as an archaeological site."[12]
Ministerial visit
Here a ministerial party pauses for photographs as they review Louisbourg progress. As a political vehicle the restoration of Fortress Louisbourg was ideal. It endorsed both English and French roots in Canada, while providing economic stimulation to a hard pressed region.
Model
The educational benefits of realizing an example of 18th century life came as a surprise. Students were absorbed when bumps on the ground could be turned into a meaningful model, but astounded at the scale of the historic town as it began to reappear
Time line
1961 - Canadian Charter of Rights
1967 - Canada's Centennial
1968 - track for the S&L railroad joining Louisbourg to Sydney and Glace Bay was torn up
1969 - reconstruction of the Chateau St. Louis at Louisbourg completed
1970 - this year, 100,000 visitors toured the Louisbourg site[13]Province of Nova Scotia. Proposal for Partial Restoration of the Fortress of, March 1961, p.2.
1981 - the reconstruction of Louisbourg was declared "complete" when approximately 1/3 of the site had been reconstructed. "Development" ceased, and Fortress operations were reduced to on-going park and collections maintenance.
1993 - this year ** visitors from ** countries toured the Louisbourg site
1994 - 75th Anniversary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
1995 - 275th Anniversary of the founding of the fortified town of Louisbourg
Endnotes
[1] McLennan to Webster, 28 November 1928. Webster Correspondence, NBM, cited A.J.B. Johnston, "Preserving History: The Commemoration of 18th Century Louisbourg, 1895-1940", Acadiensis, Volume XI, No.1, Autumn 1981, p. 79.
[2] Hon Jean Luc Pepin, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, "Inidual Cape Bretoners Must Help New Corp", Cape Breton Post, 7 April 1967, p.3. ** maybe should use a direct quote from the Rand Commission.
[3] "Inidual Cape Bretoners Must Help New Corp.", Cape Breton Post, 7 April 1967, p.2. These were the conclusions of the Donald Report.
[4] "Great Strides Made at Fortress Restoration", Cape Breton Post, 7 April 1967, p.4.
[5] Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site: Themes and Objectives. Halifax: Atlantic Region, Parks Service, Environment Canada, 1980, p.3.
[6] "Louisbourg: Greatest Restoration Project in North America", Atlantic Advocate, May 1972, p.15.
[7] "Great Strides Made at Fortress Restoration", Cape Breton Post, 7 April 1967, p.2.
[8] Lenore Crawford, "Fortress of Louisbourg a Staggering Experience", London Free Press, 16 June 1973.
[9] Jeanne Wayling, "Resurrecting Louisbourg** vf" , Canadian Motorist, c1966**, p.12-14, 25.
[10] "Full Exposure", Halifax Herald, 29 December 1965.
[11] Ruth Lea Taylor, "Fortress Louisbourg Lives Again", Vancouver Province, 14 March 1974, p.1.
[12] Jeanne Wayling, "Resurrecting Louisbourg", Canadian Motorist, no date**, p.12. Wayling is quoting American archaeologist Edward Larrabee who directed the first phase of the excavation.
[13] Province of Nova Scotia. Proposal for Partial Restoration of the Fortress of Louisbourg, March 1961, p.2.