Signal Hill National Historic Site

At the mouth of St. John’s harbour, a rocky headland rises above the Atlantic Ocean, and from its summit a crenellated tower looks down on the Narrows through which every ship once had to pass. Signal Hill National Historic Site, in Newfoundland and Labrador, earned its name from the flags that were flown here to alert the town to arriving vessels, and its commanding position made it a natural fortress. The British and French fought over the hill in 1762, in the Battle of Signal Hill, the last land engagement in North America during the Seven Years' War. The earthworks and gun batteries that survive on the slopes date from various periods of defence of the colony.

The most famous event took place here in December 1901, when Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal, the Morse letter S, sent from Cornwall in England. Marconi worked in a former hospital building near the site where the Cabot Tower now stands, and the tower itself was built in 1897 to mark the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's voyage to Newfoundland and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Inside, exhibits describe the experiment and later wireless communications. From the tower's platform the views take in the city, the harbour and an endless sweep of ocean, and icebergs sometimes drift past in spring.

The grounds have several miles of walking trails. The North Head Trail runs along the cliff edge from the tower down toward the Battery neighbourhood and Quidi Vidi, with steep sections, rock steps and rope handrails, so good footwear matters. Other paths wind to lookouts above the sea, and the Queen's Battery has a reconstructed barracks and cannon. A visitor centre explains the story of the hill and the soldiers who served here. In summer, costumed troops reenact the drills of 19th-century garrisons, and a noon-time gun is fired on selected days.

Weather on the hill is changeable. Wind can be strong and fog common, even on warm days, so bring a windproof layer. Access is easy, as the hill is a short drive from downtown St. John's, with parking near the tower. Plan between one and three hours, depending on how much walking you want.

The site is operated by Parks Canada, and the opening season, programmes and any admission fees change from year to year, so confirm them on the Parks Canada website. History lovers, hikers and photographers all find reasons to climb up here.