Fort Henry Connection (Viewpoint)

Where the St. Lawrence River leaves Lake Ontario and the Cataraqui River meets the lake, a rocky promontory called Point Henry gives a commanding view of the old naval town of Kingston. Fort Henry National Historic Site stands there, a large limestone fortress that dominates the skyline east of downtown and ranks among the best-preserved military works in Canada, a place of Canadian history in stone. The viewpoint beside it is the reason many people walk up the hill, and the panorama takes in Lake Ontario, the harbour mouth, the Royal Military College grounds across the water and the tower of Kingston's city hall in the distance.

The fort has a layered history. The first Fort Henry was a wooden defensive work built during the War of 1812 to protect the naval dockyard at Point Frederick. Fear of another American attack led the British to replace it in the 1830s with the present stone fortress, which formed part of the defences that guarded the entrance of the Rideau Canal at Kingston. It was never attacked. The fort lay largely neglected in the early 20th century and was restored in the 1930s, and since then it has operated as a living-history museum.

The living history is the highlight. The Fort Henry Guard, a group of young costumed interpreters, performs the drills, musket and rifle firings, marching and artillery demonstrations of a mid-Victorian garrison, and the programme includes the Sunset Ceremony on summer evenings, when the fort is lit and the guard performs a military display by torchlight. For those who want detail, guided tours lead through barrack rooms, the officers' quarters, the casemates and the ditch, and exhibits explain the defence of the colony. A museum on site and dining options round out the visit.

The site is managed by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and forms part of the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications World Heritage designation. Operating seasons, hours and tickets change from year to year, so check the fort's website before planning your visit.

The viewpoint itself is easy to reach and rewards a short walk, with best views at sunrise and in the evening light. Families, military history readers and photographers enjoy it, and the nearby Martello towers and Fort Frederick belong to the same defensive chain. A day in Kingston can easily start here and end downtown on the waterfront.