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Maison Cartier
Place Jacques-Cartier, Montréal 2005-10-21.JPG
General information
Location 407, place Jacques-Cartier
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 3B1
Coordinates 45°30′29″N 73°33′09″W / 45.5080°N 73.5526°W / 45.5080; -73.5526
Current tenants Jardin Nelson
Construction started 1812
Completed 1813
Design and construction
Main contractor Amable Amiot dit Villeneuve
Antoine Bouteiller
Official name: Maison Cartier National Historic Site of Canada
Designated: 1982

The Maison Cartier is a very old and important house in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It stands on Place Jacques-Cartier in the historic area called Old Montreal. This building is so special that it was named a National Historic Site of Canada on November 19, 1982. This means it's a place that tells an important part of Canada's story.

The Story of Maison Cartier

Building a Historic Home

The Maison Cartier was built a long time ago, between 1812 and 1813. Two skilled craftsmen worked on it. A mason named Amable Amiot dit Villeneuve built the stone parts. A carpenter named Antoine Bouteiller worked on the wood parts.

The walls of the house are made from a special type of stone called ashlar. This means the stones were carefully cut and shaped to fit together perfectly. The small windows on the roof, called dormers, are also a key part of its design. These features show what city buildings looked like in Quebec in the early 1800s. The first people to own this house were Louis Parthenais and Augustin Perrault.

From Hotel to Restaurant

The Maison Cartier was once connected to a place called the Nelson Hotel. Today, a popular restaurant called Jardin Nelson operates inside the building.

The restaurant's name, Jardin Nelson, might make you think of Nelson's Column. This is a very old monument right next to the house. However, the restaurant was actually named after Wolfred Nelson. He was an important figure in Quebec's history.

Who Was Wolfred Nelson?

Wolfred Nelson was a leader known as a Patriote. This was a group of people who wanted more rights and changes for the people of Lower Canada (which is now Quebec). He was involved in the Lower Canada Rebellion in 1837. Later, he became the ninth Mayor of Montreal.

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