List of National Historic Sites of Canada in Manitoba facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Manitoba is home to 58 special places called National Historic Sites. These sites are recognized because they played an important part in Canada's history. Eight of these sites are managed by Parks Canada, which helps protect and share their stories.

These sites are named by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Sometimes, these names might be different from other names you hear for the same place. Manitoba also has many other places where important historical events happened or where famous people lived. These are often marked with plaques, but the plaques don't always say if it's a site, event, or person being remembered.

National Historic Sites in Manitoba
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National Historic Sites in Manitoba

Battle of Seven Oaks

The Battle of Seven Oaks was a fierce clash that happened in 1816 in Winnipeg. It was a fight between a group of Métis led by Cuthbert Grant and settlers from the Red River Colony led by Governor Robert Semple. This site marks where this important event took place.

BCATP Hangar No. 1

This building in Brandon was finished in 1941. It's a great example of a hangar used during the Second World War for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many pilots and aircrew were trained here. It's still in its original spot, showing how important air training was during the war.

Brockinton

Near Melita, this ancient site shows how people lived long ago, around 800 AD. Archaeologists found evidence of three different cultures here. It was a place where bison were hunted and prepared. It also shows signs of the Duck Bay culture (around 1100–1350) and the Williams culture (around 1600).

Brookside Cemetery

Opened in 1878, Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg is one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in Western Canada. It's known for its beautiful design and its "Field of Honour," where many veterans are buried.

Camp Hughes

Established in 1909, Camp Hughes in North Cypress was a major training ground. Over 38,000 Canadians trained here during the First World War. Many of these soldiers later fought in the famous Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917.

Canadian Pacific Railway Station (Winnipeg)

Completed in 1906, the Canadian Pacific Railway Station (Winnipeg) in Winnipeg is a four-story building. Its grand, castle-like design and detailed stone work show how important the Canadian Pacific Railway and Winnipeg were in the early 1900s. Winnipeg was a key travel hub for Western Canada at that time.

Churchill Rocket Research Range

The Churchill Rocket Research Range was set up in 1956 in Churchill. It was a place where rockets were launched, tracked, and recovered. For a long time, it was Canada's main center for studying the upper atmosphere.

Confederation Building (Winnipeg)

The Confederation Building (Winnipeg) in Winnipeg was finished in 1912. This 10-story office building is a good example of an early skyscraper inspired by architect Louis Sullivan. It's also part of a group of "Early Skyscrapers in Winnipeg" that are also historic sites.

Dalnavert

Built in 1895, Dalnavert is a red-brick house in Winnipeg with a large wooden porch. It was originally built for Hugh John Macdonald, the son of Canada's first Prime Minister. It's a great example of the Queen Anne Revival style of architecture in Canada.

Dominion Exhibition Display Building II

This wooden building in Brandon was completed in 1913. It's the only known building left from the annual Dominion Exhibition, which ran from 1879 to 1913. These exhibitions were big events that showcased agriculture and industry.

Early Skyscrapers in Winnipeg

This group of three tall buildings in Winnipeg was built between 1912 and 1918. They include the Union Trust Tower, the Confederation Building, and the Bank of Hamilton building. Located in the Exchange District, they show how Winnipeg's modern city center began to grow.

Exchange District

The Exchange District in Winnipeg was established around 1880. It's a busy area with about 150 buildings that were once warehouses and businesses. These buildings show Winnipeg's important role as a gateway to Western Canada between 1880 and 1913.

First Homestead in Western Canada

This site near Portage la Prairie marks where the first homestead was set up in Western Canada in 1872. It was part of the federal government's new system for surveying land and encouraging settlement.

Former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School

Built in 1915, the Former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School in Long Plain First Nation is a rare surviving example of a residential school. These schools were part of a sad effort by the government and some churches to try and destroy Indigenous cultures and identities.

Former Union Bank Building / Annex

Completed in 1904, this 10-story tower and its annex in Winnipeg was the first skyscraper in Western Canada. It shows how important money and banking were in the growth of the West.

Fort Dauphin

The site of Fort Dauphin near Winnipegosis was established in 1741. It was a fort built by Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye at the request of the Cree and Assiniboine peoples.

Fort Dufferin

Fort Dufferin was built in 1872 near Emerson. Its buildings were first used by the North American Boundary Commission. Later, the North-West Mounted Police used it to prepare for their "March West" in 1875. This site shows how Canada began to take control of Manitoba and the North-West Territories in the 1870s.

Fort Garry Hotel

The Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg was completed in 1913. It's one of many castle-like hotels built by Canadian railway companies. These hotels were meant to encourage tourists to travel across the country by train.

Fort La Reine

The former site of Fort La Reine near Portage la Prairie was established in 1738. It was a French fort on the north bank of the Assiniboine River. It served as a base for exploring the Canadian Prairies and was one of the most important forts set up by Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye.

Forts Rouge, Garry, and Gibraltar

These sites in Winnipeg mark where three important fur trade forts once stood near where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet. The north gate of Fort Garry II is the only part still standing. These forts represent the different stages of the fur trade.

Grey Nuns' Convent

The Grey Nuns' Convent in Winnipeg was finished in 1851. It was the first mission house of its kind in Western Canada for the Grey Nuns. It's a great example of how buildings were made using the "Red River frame" style, and it was the oldest convent still in use on the Canadian Prairies when it became a historic site.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Completed in 1884, Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Winnipeg is a notable example of Victorian High Gothic architecture in Canada. It's a landmark church that has seen the area change from open prairie to a busy city center.

Inglis Grain Elevators

The Inglis Grain Elevators were built between 1922 and 1941 in Shellmouth-Boulton. This row of five wooden elevators next to the railway tracks are rare examples of these iconic prairie buildings from the "golden age of grain."

Linear Mounds

This site near Melita contains some of the best-preserved ancient burial mounds, called tumuli, from around 900 AD. They belong to the Devil's Lake-Sourisford Burial Complex.

Lower Fort Garry

Lower Fort Garry was built in 1830 near Selkirk. It was a Hudson's Bay Company fort with restored buildings inside and outside its stone walls. It was a major supply center for the fur trade in Western Canada and where Treaty 1 was signed.

Maison Gabrielle-Roy

The Maison Gabrielle-Roy in Winnipeg was completed in 1905. This two-and-a-half-story wooden house is where famous author Gabrielle Roy was born and lived for almost 30 years. The house inspired her writing and appeared in many of her books.

Manitoba Theatre Centre

Completed in 1970, the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg is a great example of a strong, modern building style called Brutalist architecture. It's also known for its excellent theatre design and is a model regional theatre.

Metropolitan Theatre

The Metropolitan Theatre in Winnipeg was finished in 1919. It was a grand movie theatre designed by C. Howard Crane. It shows how important movie theatres became in the 1920s.

Miami Railway Station (Canadian Northern)

The Miami Railway Station in Miami was completed in 1905. This wooden railway station is a rare example of a surviving Canadian Northern Railway station in a rural community.

Miss Davis' School Residence / Twin Oaks

Built around 1866, Miss Davis' School Residence / Twin Oaks in St. Andrews is a two-story limestone building. It was built as a school for the daughters of settlers and Hudson's Bay Company officials. It's a notable example of Red River architecture from the mid-19th century.

Neepawa Court House / Beautiful Plains County Court Building

The Neepawa Court House in Neepawa was completed in 1884. This two-story brick building helped make Neepawa an important town in the area. It was used for many public services, including county and town offices, a courthouse, police station, and even a theatre.

Neubergthal Street Village

Established in 1876, Neubergthal Street Village in Rhineland is a living example of a Mennonite village on the Canadian Prairies. Its design and buildings show the community's values of working and living together.

Norway House

Norway House was established in 1825. It's the remains of a former Hudson's Bay Company fort near the Nelson River. It was the company's main inland base for the fur trade and where Treaty 5 was signed in 1875.

Pantages Playhouse Theatre

The Pantages Playhouse Theatre in Winnipeg was completed in 1914. It was once a vaudeville theatre, known for its live shows with different acts. It's considered one of the finest theatres built in Canada during that time for live performances.

Portage la Prairie Public Building

The Portage la Prairie Public Building was finished in 1898. It was built as the town's post office, customs house, and tax office, and is now the city hall. It's a good example of small-town post offices designed by architect Thomas Fuller.

Prince of Wales Fort

Prince of Wales Fort (also known as Fort Churchill) was built in 1731 in Churchill. This fur-trade fortress was built by the Hudson's Bay Company on the tundra. It shows the competition between the British and French for control of Hudson Bay.

Ralph Connor House

The Ralph Connor House in Winnipeg was completed in 1914. This brick and stone house was built for Reverend Charles Gordon. He wrote many popular Christian adventure novels here under the pen name Ralph Connor.

Red River Floodway

The Red River Floodway in Winnipeg was completed in 1968. Winnipeg is on flat land where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, which can flood easily. The floodway safely sends extra water around the city. It's an amazing engineering achievement that protects Winnipeg from floods.

Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex

This complex in Riding Mountain National Park was completed in 1936. It includes three log buildings at the park's eastern entrance. They are great examples of the natural, simple "rustic design" used in Canada's National Parks in the 1930s.

Riel House

Riel House in Winnipeg was completed in 1881. This log house on the east side of the Red River is where Louis Riel was laid to rest after his execution in 1885. It represents the Métis river lots, a way of settling the Canadian Prairies.

Roslyn Court Apartments

The Roslyn Court Apartments in Winnipeg were completed in 1909. This five-story red brick apartment building is a notable example of the Queen Anne Revival style and apartment design from the early 1900s.

Sea Horse Gully Remains

The Sea Horse Gully Remains near Churchill are a large ancient site from the Dorset and pre-Dorset cultures. Discovered in 1969, it has a huge number of artifacts, including unique large tools.

Souris-Assiniboine Posts

The Souris-Assiniboine Posts were established in 1793 near Wawanesa. This area, where the Souris and Assiniboine rivers meet, was a major supply center for the fur trade. The Hudson's Bay Company, North West Company, and XY companies built at least seven forts here between 1793 and 1824.

St. Andrew's Anglican Church

St. Andrew's Anglican Church in St. Andrews was completed in 1849. It's the oldest stone church still standing in Western Canada. It was a center for Anglican missionaries and is the earliest example of Gothic Revival architecture in the West.

St. Andrew's Rectory

The St. Andrew's Rectory in St. Andrews was originally completed in 1854. This two-story stone house was built as a home for the Anglican parish priest. It shows the building techniques of the Hudson's Bay Company, which adapted Scottish styles to the Canadian frontier.

St. Andrews Caméré Curtain Bridge Dam

The St. Andrews Caméré Curtain Bridge Dam in Lockport was completed in 1910. This 270-meter-long bridge-dam spans the Red River. It was the largest movable dam of its kind ever built and might be the only one of its type still existing in the world.

St. Boniface City Hall

The St. Boniface City Hall in Winnipeg was completed in 1905 during a time of fast growth for St. Boniface. It's an outstanding example of a town hall in Western Canada. Its large size and classical style showed the small city's confidence and hope for the future.

St. Boniface Hospital Nurses' Residence

The St. Boniface Hospital Nurses' Residence in Winnipeg was completed in 1928. This five-story brick building was originally a nursing school and residence. It was built when nursing was becoming a recognized profession and honors the important role of nurses and women in healthcare.

St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church

St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Stuartburn was completed in 1899. This Byzantine-style wooden church was built by the first immigrants from Bukovina, making it the first permanent Ukrainian Orthodox church in Canada. It shows the early Ukrainian church building style and the cultural heritage brought by the first Ukrainians to their new country.

The Forks

The Forks in Winnipeg is a popular gathering place where two rivers meet. For 6,000 years, it has been an important spot for people to meet, fish, trade, and settle. It's a place that shows thousands of years of human activity.

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield was completed in 1938. This Ukrainian church, with its distinctive domes, stands out on the flat prairie. It's one of the most impressive "Prairie Cathedrals" designed by Reverend Philip Ruh.

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Dauphin was completed in 1939. This large church with multiple domes was planned by Philip Ruh and decorated by Theodore Baran. It's a strong symbol of the pride and cultural values of Ukrainian Canadians.

Ukrainian Labour Temple

The Ukrainian Labour Temple in Winnipeg was completed in 1919. It was a center for Ukrainian Canadian culture until the late 1960s, offering educational and other services for immigrants. It was also an important meeting place for Ukrainian strikers during the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919.

Union Station / Winnipeg Railway Station (Canadian National)

Union Station in Winnipeg was completed in 1911. This grand, castle-like railway terminal is one of Western Canada's largest. Its construction showed the confidence of the railway companies and the government in the growth of the West.

Walker Theatre

The Walker Theatre in Winnipeg was completed in 1907. It's a notable example of an early theatre in Canada, unique for its Chicago-style influences. In its early years, it was used for political meetings, especially for workers' rights and women's right to vote.

Wasyl Negrych Pioneer Homestead

The Wasyl Negrych Pioneer Homestead in Gilbert Plains was established in 1897. It has ten log buildings, fields, and orchards. It's one of the earliest and best-preserved examples of a Ukrainian farm in Canada.

Winnipeg Law Courts

The Winnipeg Law Courts in Winnipeg were completed in 1916. This three-story courthouse, made of sculpted grey limestone, is located across from the Manitoba Legislative Building. Its location and classical design show the importance of Manitoba's court system.

York Factory

York Factory was established in 1684 near the mouth of the Hayes River. It was a 17th-century fur trade post, first built by the French and later rebuilt by the Hudson's Bay Company. It was the main base for expanding the fur trade into the interior of Western Canada.