Fort York, Toronto

Take a fascinating journey back in time to 1813, when York was a rugged, imperial outpost. On 27 April, 1813, 2,700 Americans stormed ashore from Lake Ontario and ousted the troops at Fort York. They set fire to the Government House and Parliament Buildings. The following year the British got their own back by occupying Washington and burning the White House. Canadian legend has it that the White House got its name after re-painting the blackened walls white after the fire. In 1793, John Graves Simcoe built a garrison on the Fort York site and it was strengthened in 1811. The officers' quarters, dating back to 1815, have been painstakingly decorated and furnished to reflect the period. Canadian military history from the Wat of 1812 to the trench warfare of WWI is displayed in exhibits in the Blue Barracks. A video and dioramas explaining the fort's history are on show in Blockhouse 2, which used to act as a 160-man barracks. Over 12,000 artifacts were retrieved, and these are on display in the East Magazine (1814). Some of these items include belt buckles, buttons, baleen tweezers and heel plates. The 900 gunpowder barrels were stored in the Stone Magazine for protection, with its huge, 2m thick walls. Fort York is located on Garrison Road just off Fleet Street, between Bathurst Street and Strachan Avenue. It opens 10am to 5pm from Victoria Day to Labor Day. For the rest of the year it opens Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. It makes for a fun family day out, and won't cost an arm and a leg. Global Hotels operate over 150 travel sites for all major worldwide locations. Some sample sites that they operate in the Canadan market place include:Edmonton Hotels, Montreal Hotels and Vancouver Hotels. Global Hotels are an Canadian based company with an in-dept knowledge of the Canadan tourism product. [ Toronto hotels in Toronto] - [Site Map] - [ Secure Server ] - [ Privacy Policy ] - [ Disclaimer ]