March 22, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)
FACT SHEET
CAPITAL PROGRAM TO REFURBISH MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The provincial historic sites are major tourist attractions as well as
important places where the province's heritage is interpreted. In 1998, over 62,000 people
visited the nine historic sites which are open to the public.
The provincial government began designating heritage structures as
provincial historic sites in 1978. By their very nature, most historic sites are of
advanced age, some dating back more than 150 years. While the province has maintained the
sites since their designation, it is understandable that time and weather take their toll
on any building, and it is now time for a major refurbishment to take place at two of the
sites. Government established a $600,000 capital program for the refurbishment of these
structures.
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse was constructed in 1843 and
was one of the first major construction projects of the fledgling colony of Newfoundland.
It is the most-visited of all the provincial historic sites, drawing about 20,000 people a
year to Bonavista. The lighthouse is a square two-storey wooden structure built around a
masonry tower which rises through the centre of the building to support the light
mechanism. Over the years, rust has occurred on the dome which caps the tower. The dome
will have to be removed from the tower, cleaned and patched, and then reinstalled. This
intricate work will ensure quality and historical accuracy. This project has been
estimated at $500,000.
The original Quidi Vidi Battery was constructed by the
French after their successful capture of St. John's in 1762. It thereafter served the
British during the American Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.
The battery was maintained until the mid-19th century, after which it fell into disuse. It
was restored to the 1812 period as a Centennial project in 1967 by the Royal Canadian
Engineers and the provincial government. Approximately 5,000 people visit the site every
year. In the mid-1990s, it was noticed that the parapets were crumbling and the cannons
and fortifications were therefore removed. This had the effect of closing the major part
of the site to the public. Funding to the amount of $100,000 has now been allocated to
restore the parapets to their original 1812 condition.
Work on both projects will begin this spring and is expected to be
completed by the late fall. Both sites will remain open during the construction period,
although parts of each site may be temporarily off-limits to visitors.
Media contact: Tara Laing, Communications, (709) 729-0928.
1999 03 22
|