Cathcart Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathcart Tower |
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|---|---|
| Cedar Island, Kingston, Ontario | |
| Type | Martello tower |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1848 |
| Materials | Local limestone |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Cathcart Tower, Cedar Island |
| Part of | Rideau Canal |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i)(iv) |
| Inscription | 2007 (31st Session) |
| Area | 0.25 ha (27,000 sq ft) |
| Buffer zone | 9.15 ha (985,000 sq ft) |
The Cathcart Tower is a special kind of fort called a Martello tower. You can find it on Cedar Island in the St. Lawrence River. This island is just off the eastern side of Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
It's one of four Martello towers built in the 1840s. These towers were made to protect Kingston's harbour and the start of the Rideau Canal. The other towers are Fort Frederick, Shoal Tower, and Murney Tower.
An interesting fact is that Alexander Mackenzie worked as a foreman when Cathcart Tower was being built. He later became Canada's second prime minister! Sadly, during the tower's construction, a boat carrying his work crew capsized. This happened while they were returning from Cedar Island. Because of this sad event, a nearby area called Hamilton Cove was renamed Deadman's Bay.
Building the Cathcart Tower
The Cathcart Tower was finished in 1848. It's made from strong local limestone. The tower stands about 11 meters (36 feet) tall. It is also 16.5 meters (54 feet) wide.
A shallow ditch surrounds the tower. Beyond the ditch, the ground slopes gently down to the water. This sloped area is called a glacis. The tower's cannons were placed to protect the eastern side of Kingston Harbour.
Why Was the Tower Built?
These towers were built because of a disagreement between Great Britain and the United States. They were arguing over the border between British Columbia and Oregon. This argument almost led to a war, known as the Oregon crisis.
Luckily, war was avoided. So, the Cathcart Tower was used for a while as a place for soldiers to live. These soldiers were stationed at the nearby Fort Henry. Eventually, the tower was no longer needed and was left empty.
Cathcart Tower Today
Today, Cathcart Tower is a very important historical site. It is part of the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site. It is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. This means it's a special place important to everyone in the world!
The tower is also located within the Thousand Islands National Park. This park used to be called St. Lawrence Islands National Park.
If you want to visit the tower, you need a small boat. There is a dock on the north side of Cedar Island where you can tie up your boat.
