Province House (Prince Edward Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Province House |
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Province House is Prince Edward Island's provincial legislature and a National Historic Site
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Roman/Greek Revival |
| Address | 165 Richmond Street |
| Town or city | Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island |
| Country | Canada |
| Construction started | 1843 |
| Inaugurated | 1847 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Isaac Smith |
| Official name: Province House National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1973 |
| Type: | Designated Heritage Place |
| Designated: | 2004 |
Province House is a very important building in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is where the province's government, called the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, has met since 1847. You can find this historic building in Charlottetown, at the corner of Richmond and Great George Streets. It is actually the second-oldest government building still in use in Canada.
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History of Province House
Building the Province House
The construction of Province House began in May 1843, and it officially opened its doors in January 1847. The entire building cost about £10,000 to build. The design was created by Isaac Smith, an architect from Yorkshire who taught himself how to design buildings. He also designed the home for Prince Edward Island's Lieutenant Governor. Local craftspeople from the Island built Province House during a time when the colony was doing very well. The building's style shows influences from Greek and Roman designs, which was a popular look for public buildings in North America back then.
The Charlottetown Conference
From September 1 to 7, 1864, Province House played a huge role in Canadian history. It hosted the Charlottetown Conference, a meeting that led to the creation of Canadian Confederation. This was a big step towards Canada becoming its own country.
Protecting a National Historic Site
In 1973, Parks Canada and the government of Prince Edward Island agreed to work together to manage and restore Province House. They wanted to recognize its important place in Canadian history. As part of this agreement, Parks Canada paid for a major restoration project from 1979 to 1983. This project cost C$3.5 million and brought parts of the building back to how they looked in 1864. Today, the provincial government still uses one part of the building. The restored Confederation Chamber shows visitors the exact room where the Charlottetown Conference meetings took place.
An Incident at Province House
On April 20, 1995, an explosion happened near Province House. It caused damage to windows and some minor structural parts of the building. Luckily, a group of schoolchildren who were touring the building had just left the area minutes before. Several people nearby were injured, but everyone was safe.
Province House as a National Historic Site
Province House was officially named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1973. This means it is recognized as a place of great historical importance to Canada. It is one of only three provincial government buildings in Canada to have this special designation. Province House is also protected under Prince Edward Island's own Heritage Places Protection Act.
Visitors can explore rooms that are set up to look like they did in the 1860s. These displays teach you about the Charlottetown Conference, the building itself, and how the Provincial Legislative Assembly works. There is also a video presentation called "A Great Dream" that tells the story of the Conference.
Major Restoration Project
In 2015, Province House closed its doors for a big repair and conservation project. The goal was to update old systems, make the building more accessible for everyone, and restore the inside. The provincial government moved its meetings to the nearby Hon. George Coles Building.
The restoration work has taken longer than expected. In May 2023, Parks Canada announced that the building would not reopen that year. By mid-2023, the project had cost C$91.8 million. In November 2023, more funding was announced, bringing the total cost to C$138 million. The project is expected to be completed in 2025, and the building will reopen then.
While Province House was closed, the nearby Confederation Centre of the Arts created a copy of the Confederation Chamber. This allowed visitors and students to still experience what the historic room was like. This replica chamber closed on October 31, 2024, as some items were moved back to the original chamber for its reopening in 2025. Over 160,000 guests visited the replica during the time it was open.
Monuments and Memorials
War Memorials
In front of the Grafton Street entrance, you will find the Charlottetown Veterans Memorial. This bronze statue shows three soldiers and was created by G. W. Hill. It was first dedicated on July 16, 1925, to remember those who died in World War I. Later, names were added for those lost in World War II and the Korean War. In 2014, another inscription was added to honor those who died in the Afghanistan War.
Behind Province House, there is also a Boer War Memorial. This statue, made by Hamilton MacCarthy, honors members of the Royal Canadian Regiment who served in that war.
Fathers of Confederation Plaques
Along the northeast side of the building, you can find a series of plaques. These plaques remember the province's Fathers of Confederation, who were important leaders involved in creating Canada. They include:
- Edward Whelan
- Thomas Heath Haviland
- Edward Palmer
- John Hamilton Gray
- Andrew Archibald Macdonald
- William Henry Pope
- George Coles
Eckhart the Mouse Statue
A small statue of Eckhart the Mouse is also on the grounds of Province House. Eckhart is a character from David Weale's children's story The True Meaning of Crumbfest. This statue was one of nine placed around Charlottetown in 2009 to encourage students to explore the city's historic sites.
See also
In Spanish: Province House (Isla del Príncipe Eduardo) para niños
