Saint Helen Island Fort facts for kids
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| Established | 1955 |
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| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Type | historical fort |
The Saint Helen Island Fort (French: Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène) is a historical place on Saint Helen's Island in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was built in the early 1820s. Its main job was to store weapons and supplies. This was part of a plan to protect Canada from possible attacks from the American side.
Even though it wasn't super strong with many defenses, the fort was very important. It was the main place for artillery (big guns) for many other forts. These included forts to the west and those in the Richelieu River Valley, also known as the Valley of the Forts. Some of these forts were Fort Henry and Fort Lennox. The fort was built using red stone called breccia. This stone came from the island itself. Saint Helen's Island is in the St. Lawrence River, between Montreal Island and the south shore.
You might see the Levis Tower nearby. But this tower was not part of the fort's defenses. It was built in the 1930s to hold a water tank.
Contents
History of the Fort
Building and Early Use
The British built the fort between 1820 and 1824. At first, it was used as an arsenal. An arsenal is a place where weapons and military equipment are stored. After the rebellions of 1837, the fort changed. It became a military prison. Sadly, a big fire damaged the fort in 1848. But it was rebuilt later, between 1863 and 1864.
Later Years and New Uses
After the British Army left, the fort became part of the City of Montreal. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, many people needed jobs. The fort was restored as part of a project to create work.
During the Second World War, the fort had another use. It became a camp for Italians who were in the UK when the war started. Today, during the summer, the fort brings history to life. Two groups act out what 18th-century soldiers were like. These groups are The Olde 78th Fraser Highlanders and Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine.
Stewart Museum (1955-2021)
For many years, the fort was also home to the Stewart Museum (French: Musée Stewart). This was a private museum that started in 1955. A kind person named David M. Stewart founded it. He wanted to collect and show historical items from Canada's past, especially from the time of New France.
The museum had a special collection of almost 27,000 items. These included old documents and rare books. They all told the story of European history in North America. This covered everything from the start of New France up to recent times. The museum's main goal was to keep and show these items. They helped people learn about old journeys, science, battles, beliefs, and the daily lives of people long ago.
The museum was located in Parc Jean-Drapeau. It was inside the fort's arsenal, which is a 19th-century military building. This building is listed in the Quebec cultural heritage list. Both the fort and the museum used to be open all year.
Museum Closure
On February 16, 2021, after 66 years, the Stewart Museum closed for good. It could not stay open financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its collection was moved and joined with the McCord Museum in downtown Montreal. The fort itself has also been closed to the public since February 2021.
