Province House National Historic Site

Description:

• This neoclassical downtown landmark was built in 1847 in an area set aside by town fathers for colonial administration and church buildings. When it served as a colonial legislature, the massive building rose up from vacant lots of dust and mud; today, as the provincial legislature, it's ringed by handsome trees, an inviting lawn, and a bustling downtown just beyond. This stern and imposing sandstone edifice occupies a special spot in Canadian history as the place where the details of the Confederation were hammered out in 1864. In the early 1980s, the building was restored to appear as it would have looked in that year.

  Start your tour by viewing a well-made film that documents the process of confederation. Afterward, wander the halls and view the Legislative Assembly, where legislators have been meeting since 1847. It's surprisingly tiny, but perhaps appropriate given that PEI's legislature has just 27 members, making it the smallest in Canada. Especially impressive is the second-floor Confederation Chamber, where a staffer is usually on hand to explain what took place and to answer that burning question: Why did PEI wait 9 years to join Canada? Plan to spend about an hour here.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010