Nanaimo Bastion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Nanaimo Bastion
General information
Architectural style	Octagon Mode
Address	98 Front Street
Town or city	Nanaimo, British Columbia
Country	Canada
Construction started	1853
Completed	1855
Client	Hudson's Bay Company
Technical details
Structural system	3 story blockhouse structure, wood material, projecting 3rd floor
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect	Hudson's Bay Company

The Hudson's Bay Company flag flies above the Bastion today.

The Nanaimo Bastion is a historic building in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It's shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. The Hudson's Bay Company built it between 1853 and 1855. They built it to protect their coal mining operations in Nanaimo.

People often call the Bastion "Nanaimo's main landmark." This is because of its unique shape and how easy it is to see from both land and the sea. It's a very important part of Nanaimo's history.

Building the Bastion

The Bastion was built using a special method called pièce-sur-pièce. This means that logs were laid across each other horizontally. The ends of these logs were cut to fit into vertical posts. This building method saved a lot of money because very few nails were needed.

Workers used simple hand tools to shape the logs. These tools included saws, axes, and drills. The wooden building sits on a strong stone base. It has three stories. The Nanaimo Bastion is the only tower of its kind built by the Hudson's Bay Company that is still standing today.

Moving and Repairing the Bastion

In 1891, the Bastion was almost torn down. But the city of Nanaimo knew it was important. So, they bought the building for $175. They then moved it across the street from its first spot.

The Bastion was moved a second time in 1979. This happened when the roads were being made wider. On December 12, 1985, Nanaimo officially named it a local heritage site. This means it's a protected historical place.

In the summer of 2010, the Bastion was carefully taken apart. This was done to replace old, rotting wood. They also added strong steel beams inside to make it more stable.

Visiting the Bastion

The Nanaimo Museum looks after the Bastion. You can visit it during the summer months. It's open from May to early September. The Bastion also works as a tourist information center. You can learn about the building's history inside.

The Nanaimo Museum also does a special event. They fire a cannon every day at noon during the summer! This happens just a few feet from the Bastion. The Bastion's image is also on the crest of the HMCS Nanaimo. This is a Canadian Navy ship that has served since 1997.

The First Floor: Joseph William McKay's Office

The first floor of the Bastion was once the office of Joseph William McKay. He was a clerk for the Hudson's Bay Company. His family had worked for the company for many years. Joseph was Métis, and he spoke many languages. These included English, French, and several Indigenous languages.

McKay was in charge of building the Bastion. He used the first floor for his daily work. This included managing the local coal mines and the settlement. He also ordered supplies and handled trade goods. He sent messages to Fort Victoria. Supplies often came on large ships like the Beaver. Sometimes, supplies from England took up to two years to arrive!

Today, the first floor tells the story of Nanaimo's trade history. It also shares more about Joseph McKay's important role in the coal industry.

The Second Floor: The Arsenal

The Bastion's second floor was where weapons were kept. This was Nanaimo's arsenal. Two four-pound and two six-pound carronades were stored here. Carronades are a type of short cannon. The Hudson's Bay Company brought these cannons in 1853. Guns, ammunition, and other firing supplies were also kept on this floor.

The Bastion and its cannons were meant for defense. The cannons were also fired to welcome important visitors arriving by ship. Sometimes, they were even fired into the forest to show strength. The third floor above offered a good spot to look out and fire down if needed.

Today, the second floor has exhibits about the guns of Nanaimo. It also shows a timeline of the Bastion's history and how it was built.

The Third Floor: Storage and Shelter

The third floor of the Bastion was used for storage. It also served as a safe place for Hudson's Bay Company employees and their families. They could take refuge here if there was danger.

Images for kids

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  A view of Nanaimo Harbour with the Bastion and ships.

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  Examples of trade goods from the 1800s, on display inside the Bastion.

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  Some guns from the 1800s, once owned by Hudson's Bay employees, on the second floor of the Bastion.

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  One of the original 4-pound carronades on display at the Bastion. Its twin is in the Nanaimo Museum.

See also

• James Douglas
• List of historic places in the Nanaimo Regional District
• Nanaimo Harbour
• List of coal mines and landmarks in the Nanaimo area