Things to do in Brockville

The city of Brockville, once known as Elizabethtown, is located in the Thousand Islands region of Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is politically separate from the county, despite being the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. It is only included in the census along with Leeds and Grenville. Brockville, also referred to as the “City of the 1000 Islands,” is situated on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River, roughly midway between Cornwall to the east and Kingston to the west. The distance from Ottawa, the nation’s capital, to the south is 115 kilometres. Across the river from Brockville is the village of Morristown, New York.The territory where Brockville is located was once occupied by the Oswegatchie people and then by the St. Lawrence Iroquoians.

 John H. Fulford Memorial Fountain

It is a significant addition to the city’s main center’s streetscape. Built of glazed terra cotta in the Italian Renaissance architectural style and designed by a skilled architect and artist in honour of a former mayor, it was unveiled to the city on June 11, 1917.In 1917, the John H. Fulford Memorial Fountain was built. From Brockville, the “1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises” firm offers picturesque cruises on the Saint Lawrence River.

Several dive operators send divers to the Brockville area, which serves as the starting point for underwater wreck diving on sunken ships found in the Saint Lawrence. In 2014, Brockville launched an underwater sculpture park off of Centeen Park in partnership with S.O.S. (Save Ontario Shipwrecks).

Brockville City Hall

Victoria Hall was built between 1862 and 1864 after a contentious period that started in 1859 when plans were made to replace the East Ward Market Hall with a larger structure.

When the Honourable Charles Jones gave the local government a piece of property that stretched from the King’s Highway to the River St. Lawrence in 1832, the usage of this location as an outdoor market was established. For the years that followed, this site—which currently includes East and West Market Streets and the acreage between them—acted as a market place. Before 1852, a square-shaped frame building was constructed in the centre of the side to house the indoor butcher’s booths.

Fulford Place

In Brockville, Ontario, there is a historic mansion called Fulford Place. It was finished in 1901 for Canadian politician and businessman Senator George Taylor Fulford. Now run by the Ontario Heritage Trust, the house is a historic house museum with Edwardian-era furnishings. In 1992, it was recognized as a Canadian National Historic Site.

The Fulfords made a fortune selling Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People after acquiring a patent for the pills in 1890. The Fulfords then had a mansion constructed for them in Brockville, on the shore of the St. Lawrence River, where they found several other stunning estates, many of which belonged to other prosperous businesspeople.

 

Brockville Railway Tunnel

The former railway tunnel beneath Brockville, Ontario, Canada’s downtown is known as the Brockville Railway Tunnel or simply the Brockville Tunnel. Construction started in September 1854, and on December 31, 1860, the first train went through the tunnel, making it Canada’s first railway tunnel. It has been accessible to the general public as a free seasonal tourism destination since 2017.

The tunnel is 527 meters long and runs north/south from Water Street. It goes beneath the Victoria Hall, which was constructed in 1863–1864 and is currently Brockville City Hall. The Brockville and Ottawa Railway constructed it.

 

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