2021 – Looking southwest from the Bathurst St bridge towards Fort York National Historic Site in Toronto
Have you had a tour of Fort York? The national historic site is located at 250 Fort York Blvd and bounded by Strachan Ave to the west and Bathurst St to the east. Known as “Toronto’s founding landscape, “the Fort is on 43 acres of land. A defensive wall surrounds Canada’s largest group of original War of 1812 structures.
In 1793, the British army, headed by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, ordered a garrison to be built on today’s Fort York site. It was the primary harbour defence to guard York (today’s Toronto).
The Battle of York 1813
In the Battle of York 1813, many of the structures in the fort were destroyed when American soldiers stormed ashore by way of ships. At that time, Lake Ontario was touching the south side of the Fort (lake filling to push the shoreline south didn’t start until decades later). The Fort was rebuilt sometime between 1813 to 1815. It remained the City’s harbour defence until the 1880s and home to the military garrison until the 1930s.
1934 – Fort York No. 2 Blockhouse (Toronto Public Library R-2449)
Fort York’s Restoration
Between 1932 and 1934, the City restored Fort York. On Victoria Day 1934, Fort York opened as a historic site museum in celebration of the centennial of the incorporation of the City of Toronto.
Highlights Include:
No. 2 Blockhouse: One of the first structures built in the second half of the War of 1812. It housed soldiers and was made of thick, square-timbered walls. It gave protection, plus the windows and loopholes allowed for defence.
North & South Soldiers’ Barracks: In 1815, each building was home to 100 people, including the soldiers, their wives, and children. These numbers reduced as the years went on.
Other notable features: Stone Magazine (1815), West Wall (1811, 1934), Circular Battery (1811), Brick Magazine (1814) and more.
Fort York is open year-round. Tickets should be purchased in advance (online) and operate on a pay-what-you-can basis.
About 500 m to the northeast of this historic site is what’s known today as Victoria Memorial Square. This park is Toronto’s earliest-known military burying ground, established by British authorities. Garrison Common is on Fort York grounds, about 400 m to the west. In this area is the Strachan Avenue Military Burying Ground. Established in 1863, it was Toronto’s third such cemetery and was in use until 1911.
Fort York National Historic Site Photos
2021 – Looking southwest from the Bathurst St bridge towards Fort York National Historic Site in Toronto1934 – Looking west inside Fort York towards No. 1 (east) Blockhouse and the Brick Magazine with No. 2 (centre) Blockhouse in the centre background (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 810)2020 – Looking into Fort York from the Eastern Gate towards the Brick Magazine and No. 2 (centre) Blockhouse1885 – Looking towards Fort York from the Eastern Gate (Toronto Public Library R-2841)2020 – Looking northeast at Fort York towards the Officers’ Blue Barracks and No 2 (centre) Blockhouse with the CN Tower in the distance1980 – Looking northeast towards the Toronto skyline from Fort York. Notice No. 2 (centre) Blockhouse, the Brick Magazine and No. 1 (east) Blockhouse (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 46, Item 98)2020 – No. 2 (centre) Blockhouse at Fort York1934 – No. 2 (centre) Blockhouse at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2449)1950 – Looking east towards No. 2 (centre) Blockhouse at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2978)1934 – The interior of a Blockhouse at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2451)2020 – No. 1 (east) Blockhouse at Fort York1922 – No. 1 (east) Blockhouse at Fort York (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1548, Series 393 Item 17522)1871 – Blockhouse at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2882)Circa 1899 – Looking west towards the Soldiers’ North Barracks, “D” Barracks and the Officer’s Brick Barracks and Mess Establishment at Fort York. “D” Barracks were taken down during the 1934 restoration (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, Series 327, Sub Series 1, File 5, Item 3)2020 – The Officers’ Brick Barracks and Mess Establishment at Fort York National Historic Site 1885 – The Officers’ Brick Barracks and Mess Establishment at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2911)2020 – The Fife and Drum at Fort York2020 – A musket demonstration during a tour at Fort York National Historic Site2020 – Inside Fort York National Historic Site1926 – Looking south from Fort York towards Tip Top Tailors, today’s Tip Top Lofts (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 1502)2020 – The Brick Magazine at Fort York 1934 – The Brick Magazine at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2461)1930 – Looking northeast at Fort York. Notice the Sir Isaac Brock Bridge, known as the Bathurst Street Bridge behind the Brick Magazine (Toronto Public Library R-3001)2020 – The Fort York Gard at the Western Gate2020 – The Western Gate at Fort York1885 – Looking east from Fort York’s Western Gate (Toronto Public Library R-6869)1903 – Looking east at Fort York from the western entrance. In the distance are the Officers’ Blue Barracks and the Artillery Barracks. The historical plaque on the wall was erected by the Canadian Club in 1899 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, Series 327, Sub Series 1, File 5, Item 1)1900 – A plaque at Fort York that reads “The Old Fort – Established by Lieutenant Governor Simcoe at the mouth of the Garrison Creek in 1796 for the Queen’s Rangers. Garrisoned by British troops during the War of 1812-14 and at different times until 1871. Taken by American troops April 27th 1813 during the attack on York. Evacuated May 1st 1813.” (Toronto Public Library R-2843)1934 – Looking east at the western gate at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2460)2020 – The Eastern Gate at Fort York1934 – Looking east from inside Fort York after the restoration in celebration of the centennial of the incorporation of the City of Toronto. Notice in the distance on the left the Sir Isaac Brock Bridge, known as the Bathurst Street Bridge, and the Royal York Hotel (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 603)1890s – Looking northeast from inside Fort York (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 326, File 5, Item 13)2020 – Looking southwest towards the South Soldiers’ Barracks at Fort York1934 – Looking south towards the Soldiers’ South and North Barracks at Fort York after restoration (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 811)1934 – The South Soldiers’ Barracks at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2442)Circa 1900 – Brick Soldiers’ Barracks at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2906)1903 – Looking north towards the South Soldiers’ Barracks at Fort York (Toronto Public Library R-2916)1885 – Looking northwest towards the Soldiers’ South and North Barracks, “D” Barracks and the Officer’s Brick Barracks and Mess Establishment at Fort York. “D” Barracks were taken down during the 1934 restoration (Toronto Public Library R-2950)1950 – A aerial view looking east showing Fort York, Royal York Hotel, Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1128, Series 380, Item 65)1934 – Looking southeast from Fort York towards Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors, today’s Tip Top Lofts (Toronto Public Library R-6871)July 4, 1934 – A ceremony to return the mace of the Parliament of Upper Canada, seized by American troops in 1813. Notice Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors in the background (Toronto Public Library R-2975)1934 – Looking southeast from Fort York towards Loblaws Groceteria Building and Maple Leaf Baseball Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 602)1934 – Looking south from Fort York towards Tip Top Tailors, today’s Tip Top Lofts (Toronto Public Library R-2976)1932 – One of the old houses on the site of Fort York (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0112638F)Between 1932 and 1933 – The Officers’ Blue Barracks at Fort York at the time of its reconstruction. Notice the four surviving chimneys found inside the building today (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 801)2020 – Looking northeast towards the Dry Moat at Fort York. Notice the CN Tower in the distance1899 – Gun Storage Shed in the Ordnance Yard on Garrison Rd at Fort York (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, Series 327, Sub Series 1, File 5, Item 82021 – Looking southwest towards Fort York National Historic Site from the Sir Isaac Brock Bridge, known as the Bathurst Street Bridge2020 – The Well at Fort York was hand-dug and sunk in 1802. The Well is over 7 m deep, has an outside diameter of 3 m and is lined with lakeshore stone2020 – Fort York National Historic Site at 250 Fort York Blvd1980s – An aerial view looking southwest towards Fort York (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 359, Item 18)2022 – Fort York National Historic Site map (Fort York information plaque)1912 – Goads Map showing the location of the Fort York (Toronto Public Library)1871 – Plan showing some of the man-made water features of the site at the time of the fort’s transfer from Britain to Canada: three wells; one underground water tank; three latrines: three privies; two urinals; and two ablution rooms. All drainage was underground by this time (Map by Lieutenant Donald Mien, Royal Engineers, 1871, Library and Archives Canada NMC-5382)1858 – Atlas of the City of Toronto showing the location of the Fort York (Toronto Public Library)2020 – The Battle of York 1813 plaque at Fort York2020 – Fort York historic sites plaque2021 – Landing of American Troops at York plaque located on Lake Shore Blvd W, just east of The Boulevard Club
