Pied-du-Courant Prison facts for kids
The prison, Monument aux Patriotes and a part of wall
|
|
| Location | 903, avenue de Lorimier Montreal, Quebec H2K 3V9 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°31′25″N 73°32′47″W / 45.5236°N 73.5465°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Security class | historic site (1978) |
| Capacity | over 276 |
| Opened | 1835 |
| Closed | 1912 |
| Managed by | Société des alcools du Québec |
| Governor | Charles-Amédée Vallée - from 1895 to 1912 |
The Pied-du-Courant Prison (also known as Prison du Pied-du-Courant in French) is a historic building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located near the Saint Lawrence River and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Today, it serves as a museum, helping people learn about an important part of Quebec's history.
Contents
A Look Inside This Historic Prison
The idea for a new prison in Montreal began in 1825. An architect named George Blaiklock first drew up plans. However, it was John Wells who designed the building we see today. He was inspired by prisons in Philadelphia, like the Eastern State Penitentiary.
The prison officially opened in 1836. It was built to hold more than 276 people. But during the 1837-1838 rebellion, it held over 1500 prisoners! It operated as a city prison until 1912. Many people involved in the Lower Canada Rebellion were held here.
Changes Over Time
After 1912, the prison closed and was empty for almost ten years. In 1921, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) bought the building. This is a company that manages alcohol sales in Quebec. The SAQ made many changes to the old prison.
For example, they removed the triangular roof on the front of the main building. They also added a fourth floor and a new section at the back. Part of the front wall was taken down, but the main gate and the east wall remained.
A Place of Remembrance
The Pied-du-Courant Prison is famous because many Patriotes were held and executed here. These Patriotes were people who fought for more rights and freedom in the Lower Canada Rebellion. Because of this history, the site now has a museum. This museum teaches visitors about the Patriotes and their struggle.
Every year, on National Patriote Day, people gather here to remember these historical figures. A film called February 15, 1839 tells the story of events that happened at this prison. In 2017, the building was bought by two cultural organizations, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) and Télé-Québec.
The Monument aux Patriotes
In front of the old prison, there is a special monument called the Monument aux Patriotes. It stands in a place known as the Place of the Patriots. This monument honors the brave Patriotes.
The famous sculptor Alfred Laliberté created this monument. It was officially revealed on June 24, 1926. The monument has three sides, and each side features a bronze medallion. These medallions show important Patriote leaders: Chevalier de Lorimier, Louis-Joseph Papineau, and Wolfred Nelson.
Important People Held Here
Many people were held at Pied-du-Courant Prison. One notable person was Félix Poutré.
See also
In Spanish: Prisión de Pied-du-Courant para niños
- Patriote movement
- Quebec nationalism
- Quebec independence movement
- History of Quebec
- Timeline of Quebec history
Images for kids
-
Sketch by André Jobin, 1838
-
The prison in 1839
-
Governeur house
-
