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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


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