Lévis Forts facts for kids
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| Established | 1865 |
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| Location | Saint Lawrence River in the Province of Quebec, Canada. |
| Type | forts |
| Official name: Lévis Forts National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1920 |
The Lévis Forts are a group of three old forts found on the south side of the Saint Lawrence River in Lévis, Quebec, Canada. These forts were built a long time ago, starting in 1865 and finishing around 1872. They were designed by a special group of engineers called the Royal Engineers. Building each fort cost a lot of money back then, about £57,600 to £59,762.
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Why Were the Lévis Forts Built?
During the American Civil War, which happened in the United States, Great Britain tried to stay out of the fighting. However, Britain relied a lot on cotton from the southern United States for its factories.
After the Civil War ended, the British worried that the United States might try to invade Canada. There were also tensions in Europe between Austria and Prussia. This made Britain concerned about getting wood from the Baltic Sea region. Canada was a very important source of wood for Britain at that time.
Planning the Forts
Because of these worries, a military expert named Lieutenant-Colonel William Jervois was sent to Canada. His job was to check the defenses of the colony. He suggested building new forts on Point Lévy. This spot was on the south side of the Saint Lawrence River. These forts would help protect Quebec City, which was a major port.
The first plans suggested building five forts. However, only three of them were actually built. Luckily, none of the forts were ever needed for battle. The fear of an American invasion went away after the Treaty of Washington was signed in 1871. This treaty helped improve relations between the countries.
Lévis Forts National Historic Site
Fort No. 1 is the easternmost of the three forts. It has been a special place called a National Historic Site of Canada since 1920. In the 1970s, work was done to fix it up and make it look good again.
Exploring Fort No. 1
Inside the fort, you can find special rooms called casemates. These rooms are part of the fort's strong, many-sided design. They have exhibits that tell the story of the fort. You can watch a video, see small models, and look at old pictures. There are also fun games and old tools to explore.
You can take a guided tour to see the casemates, tunnels, and underground rooms. If you prefer to explore on your own, you can walk around outside. You can see the cool retractable bridge, the main defense area called the terreplein, and the places where gunpowder was stored, known as powder magazines. You can also see the caponiers, which are protected spots for soldiers to fire from.
Museum Connections
The Lévis Forts are connected to several important groups. These include the CMA, the CHIN, and Digital Museums Canada. These connections help the site share its history and information with more people.
