Port-Royal National Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port-Royal National Historic Site |
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The entrance into the replica of the Habitation at Port-Royal.
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| Location | 53 Historic Lane, Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia |
| Area | 1 hectare (2.5 acres) |
| Built | 1605-1613 |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
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| Official name: Port-Royal National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | May 25, 1923 |
Port-Royal National Historic Site is a special place in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located on the north side of the Annapolis Basin in Granville Ferry. This site is home to a famous building called the Habitation at Port-Royal.
The Habitation was the main center for the French colony of Port Royal in Acadia. It was active from 1605 to 1613. Sadly, English forces from the Colony of Virginia destroyed it in 1613. Today, the site helps us remember this important part of Canadian history.
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A Look Back: Early History
The French colony of Port Royal was the first time Europeans successfully built a lasting settlement in what is now Canada. The Habitation was the heart of this colony from 1605 to 1613. Even though the European settlement of Port Royal continued, the Habitation's role as the main center ended when it was destroyed.
In 1629, Scottish settlers built a new fort called Charles Fort. This fort is now known as Fort Anne. The new fort became the main spot for the Port Royal colony. The town that grew around this new fort is now called Annapolis Royal.
Bringing History to Life
In the 1920s, people started to recognize how important the original Habitation was. On May 25, 1925, the national Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada officially named it the Port-Royal National Historic Site.
In the 1930s, archaeologists found the likely spot where the original Habitation stood. People became very interested in this early French settlement. This interest grew even more after a historical novel, Quietly My Captain Waits, was published. It was set in Port-Royal in the early 1600s.
Around the early 1900s, people in Nova Scotia wanted to rebuild the Habitation. They asked the Government of Canada to create a copy of the building that stood from 1605 until 1613.
The government agreed to build the replica on the original site. Construction happened from 1939 to 1941. The builders used old plans for the original Habitation that had been found in France. This was the very first time a replica structure was built at a National Historic Site in Canada.
Today, this replica is a key part of the Port-Royal National Historic Site. It helps visitors learn about this important historical area. The replica of the Habitation is seen as a big step in protecting Canada's history.
Visiting Port-Royal Today
The site is run by Parks Canada and is open to the public. You can visit and learn about life in the early 17th century. Historical interpreters, dressed in old-fashioned costumes, work at the site. They show visitors what activities like farming, building, cooking, and fur trading were like. You can also learn about the Mi'kmaq people who lived there. It is a popular place for tourists to visit.
Images for kids
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Courtyard inside the Habitation replica.
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An outside view of the Habitation replica.
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The Royal arms of France displayed at the site.
