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42-492: The Niagara Parkway begins at Fort Erie in the south. It passes through several villages along the river before passing through the tourist district of Niagara Falls. North of the city it provides access to several attractions, including the Whirlpool Rapids, Butterfly Conservatory, and Brock's Monument at Queenston Heights. The route ends at Fort George , southeast of the urban centre of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Construction on

84-643: A catalyst for the passage of the Act Against Slavery in 1793 by the Upper Canada Executive Council, marking a significant step towards the abolition of slavery in the region. Despite charges against Cooley's owner being dropped, the public outrage surrounding the event led Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe to push for legislation prohibiting the importation of slaves, resulting in the gradual abolition of slavery in Upper Canada. Today, Cooley's legacy

126-565: A population of 300. A new portage around Niagara Falls was developed in the 1780s with Queenston at its north end. Wharves, storehouses and a block-house were built. Initially called Lower Landing, it was named Queenston by Lieut.-Governor Simcoe. In 1793, a young black woman named Chloe Cooley was sold as a slave and forced across the Niagara River into the United States, an event witnessed by several Queenston locals. This incident became

168-401: A rallying point during and after the war as a symbol of Canadian independence from the United States. This led to the erection of the first Brock's Monument, a 135-foot (41.1m) Tuscan column with a viewing platform at the top. Construction began in 1823, and the monument was inaugurated October 13, 1824. During its construction, William Lyon Mackenzie suggested that a capsule be sealed within

210-416: A resounding victory under the command of Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe . Brock and his aide were initially buried in the north-east corner of Fort George in nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake . This corner has come to be known as Brock's Bastion and is immortalized as such by a small stone bearing that inscription. A campaign began among prominent Upper Canadians to honour Brock, whose dramatic death provided

252-462: A small force and was killed while trying to regain the heights. The British, Mohawk and militia troops under Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe , with reinforcements from Chippawa, Ontario were able to take the hill and captured nearly 1000 prisoners. The victory and Brock's death are commemorated by Brock's Monument atop the Niagara Escarpment with a large stone statue of Brock overlooking

294-458: A strategy for the invasion of France during World War II (which would come to be known as D-Day ). Prior to the conference, he met with William Lyon Mackenzie King several times. Between the meetings and conference, Churchill visited Niagara Falls and was driven along the Niagara Parkway, after which he described it as "the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world." On May 30, 1977,

336-512: Is a 56-metre (185 ft) column atop Queenston Heights in Queenston , Ontario , Canada, dedicated to Major General Sir Isaac Brock , one of Canada's heroes of the War of 1812 . Brock, a British Army officer in charge of defending Upper Canada from a United States invasion, and one of his aides-de-camp , Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell , are interred at the monument's base on the heights above

378-626: Is a compact rural community and unincorporated place 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Niagara Falls in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake , Ontario , Canada. It is bordered by Highway 405 to the south and the Niagara River to the east; its location at the eponymous Queenston Heights on the Niagara Escarpment led to the establishment of the Queenston Quarry in the area. Across the river and

420-698: Is commemorated with markers and recognition, including her designation as a National Historic Person, illustrating Queenston's role in this pivotal moment in Canada's history. A great deal of fighting occurred here during the War of 1812 , in the settlement and at nearby Fort George. In that era, Laura Secord lived in this area. Rebel William Lyon Mackenzie lived in Queenston in the 1820s and operated his publishing operation here. On 13 October 1812, American troops took possession of Queenston Heights . Major-General Sir Isaac Brock arrived from Fort George, Ontario with

462-640: Is known as Lakeshore Road and connects with the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and the former Highway 3 . East of the Mather Circle, the road becomes known as Niagara Parkway and proceeds north through downtown Fort Erie, beneath the International Railway Bridge . It gradually curves to the east opposite the southern shore of Grand Island . Houses line the southern side of the parkway along this section. The road curves back northward as it crosses

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504-678: The Royal Ontario Museum , Union Station and the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse. By the mid-1800s, the Welland Canal became the primary method of shipping goods and the village of Queenston received little trade. Queenston became part of the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1970. RiverBrink Art Museum is located in Queenston. It is home to a unique collection of over 1,400 artworks and artefacts by Canadian and international artists, assembled by Samuel E. Weir. Completed in 1970,

546-756: The Black Creek and passes through a sparsely populated stretch. It passes the Willoughby Historical Museum followed by the Legends on the Niagara Golf Course. Shortly thereafter, it enters the City of Niagara Falls and meets the Welland River . Traffic is diverted west to cross the river at Portage Road, where it then resumes on the Niagara Parkway at King's Bridge Park . The Niagara Parkway travels alongside

588-561: The Canada–US border is the village of Lewiston, New York . The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge links the two communities. This village is at the point where the Niagara River began eroding the Niagara Escarpment. During the ensuing 12,000 years the Falls cut an 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long gorge in the Escarpment southward to its present-day position. In the early 19th century, the community's name

630-674: The City of Niagara Falls assumed River Road between Hiram Street, north of the Rainbow Bridge, and Glenview Avenue, east of Victoria Avenue. This section is still designated as part of the Niagara Parkway despite not being under the jurisdiction of the Niagara Parks Commission. The following table lists the major junctions along Niagara Parkway. The entire route is located in the Regional Municipality of Niagara .  Brock%27s Monument Brock's Monument

672-513: The Parkway's interchange with Highway 405 was removed by December 2006. North of the bridge, the route descends the Niagara Escarpment near Brock's Monument , a column which commemorates the death of Sir Isaac Brock during the Battle of Queenston Heights . At the bottom of the escarpment, the route passes the village of Queenston . The parkway meanders north, parallel to the river, with houses lining

714-601: The Upper Rapids and passes adjacent to Horseshoe Falls . It crosses through Queen Victoria Park and enters downtown Niagara Falls, where it is known as River Road north of Clifton Hill . The parkway passes below the Rainbow Bridge ; side streets provide access to Highway 420 , but River Road itself does not meet it. As the road progresses north, it passes beneath the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge before wrapping around

756-523: The Whirlpool Rapids, incorporating the existing River Road, by 1915. The section between the rapids and Queenston was opened between 1921 and 1923. Finally, the remaining section between Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake opened in 1931, completing the present parkway. In mid-August 1943, Winston Churchill came to Canada to attend the Quebec Conference , a then-secret meeting in Quebec City to discuss

798-695: The Whirlpool Rapids. At Victoria Avenue, River Road becomes the Niagara Parkway again. The parkway passes the Butterfly Conservatory and crosses the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations . Shortly thereafter, it passes by the Niagara Floral Clock, one of the largest floral clocks in the world with a diameter of 12.2 m (40 ft). It passes beneath Highway 405 at the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge ;

840-403: The battlefield where both fell during the Battle of Queenston Heights . The current monument was constructed between 1853 and 1856, which replaced an earlier Monument to Brock on the battlefield (1824–1840). Parks Canada maintains the monument, the most imposing feature of Queenston Heights National Historic Site. It is the fourth oldest war memorial in Canada. Brock died by gunshot wound to

882-641: The chest on the morning of October 13, 1812, leading a charge of British regulars and Canadian militia up the Heights to regain the Redan Battery, earlier captured by American infantry forces under Captain John Wool . One of Brock's aides-de-camp, John Macdonell was also mortally wounded while attempting to lead a subsequent abortive charge when his mount was shot from beneath him and fell on him. The combined British, Canadian, and First Nations forces eventually won

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924-624: The earthly remains of a brave and virtuous hero, / Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, / Commander of the British forces, / and President Administering / the Government of Upper Canada, / Who fell when gloriously engaging the Enemies ;/ of his Country, / at the head of the Flank Companies ;/ of the 49th Regiment, / in the Town of Queenstown, / on

966-556: The end of an interpretive historical walking trail that leads down and then up Queenston Heights, recounting key events in the battle. There is also a small monument to Tecumseh between the monument and the look out. This monument is approximately 3 feet tall, and is composed of twigs, twine and dyed dollar store feathers. It has a placard made of paper protected by a report cover, and has been maintained for years, however, not by Parks Niagara, Parks Ontario, or Parks Canada, but by some caring civilians. Queenston, Ontario Queenston

1008-478: The government, the Parks Commission began to expropriate land along the length of the river. The broadened strip of land was used to construct a new paved parkway, which was opened in segments. The new parkway was ornamental and designed to be aesthetically pleasing, a prime consideration of road construction at that time. The section south of the falls was completed first, opening in 1912. It was extended north to

1050-436: The limestone walls. More recent educational displays outline Brock's life, the battle, and the monument's history—including a portion of Brock's former limestone arm that collapsed in 1929. A 235-step spiral staircase up the column leads visitors to a small indoor platform underneath Brock's statue. Porthole windows provide views of the surrounding Niagara region and Lake Ontario . The monument, illuminated at night, marks

1092-619: The majority of its length, although the section from Hiram Street to Upper Rapids Boulevard in Niagara Falls is a four lane divided road signed at 40 km/h (25 mph). It is 55 km (34 mi) in length, crossing the entire Niagara Peninsula between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario . The route falls under the jurisdiction of the Niagara Parks Commission , an agency of the Government of Ontario , for most of its length. However,

1134-420: The modern Niagara Parkway began in 1908; it was completed from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario in 1931 as a scenic road with gardens and manicured lawns throughout its length. The parkway was referred to by Sir Winston Churchill , having been driven down it, as "the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world." The Niagara Parkway is a two-lane minor arterial road with a 60 km/h (37 mph) speed limit for

1176-562: The monument although it failed to bring it down. The attack was presumed to have been orchestrated by Benjamin Lett , an anti-British agitator and participant in the 1837 Rebellion although a subsequent Assize failed to confirm this. Brock and Macdonell's remains were removed after the monument's disassemblage and reinterred in the Hamilton Family Burial Grounds at Niagara Parkway and Dee Road in Queenston. A campaign to rebuild

1218-487: The monument began almost immediately. In 1852, Toronto architect William Thomas had his design selected for a monument even grander than the first. A master stone carver named Charles Thomas Thomas (1820–1867) supervised the construction and stone carving of Brock's Monument. He was an English-born stone carver. Thomas was employed by Worthington Brothers of Toronto, contractors for the stone work on Brock's Monument. Construction began in 1853 again using limestone from

1260-523: The monument containing an inscription written by Mackenzie, coins, a copy of the Upper Canada Gazette and the first issue of the Colonial Advocate . The Upper Canada Lieutenant-Governor Peregrine Maitland ordered its removal because he did not want to include a newspaper critical of the government in the monument. On April 17, 1840, an explosive charge did serious and irreparable damage to

1302-478: The monument should there be a power loss. The main entrance is flanked by two large mulberry trees believed to have been planted during the 1850s. Inside the monument's base are a number of brass plaques: Brock and Macdonell's epitaphs, a list of donors and builders, and a tribute to the British, Canadian, and First Nations soldiers who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights. The two bodies are interred in crypts within

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1344-502: The morning of the 13th October, 1812, / aged 42 years.        J.B. Glegg, A.D.C. A 1929 lightning strike severely damaged Brock's statue, sending large portions crashing to the ground below. In August 2003 the Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada held a ceremony to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the monument's groundbreaking. Engineering inspections carried out in 2003 and 2004 revealed

1386-455: The nearby Queenston Quarry and was completed three years later. The remains of Brock and Macdonell were led back up Queenston Heights and interred for the fourth time. The monument was officially inaugurated on October 13, 1859. A smaller obelisk, closer to the exact site of Brock's death, was dedicated by Prince Edward (later King Edward VII ), in 1860. On the re-interment, two oval plates were attached to Brock's coffin. They read: Here lie

1428-455: The need for significant restorative work to the structure's interior and exterior limestone. Parks Canada closed the monument to the public in 2005 pending repairs. An extensive restoration on the monument began in 2008 and was completed in May 2009. Improvements included relining the interior walls to protect against condensation as well as battery-powered interior emergency lights to assist with exiting

1470-691: The primary route between Fort Erie and Fort George . Its importance grew with the declaration of war against the Americans in June 1812. During the war, the road became vital for the movement of militia and supplies, and accordingly it was one of the primary frontiers of the war. When the First Welland Canal was opened in 1829, the Niagara Road became a towpath for vessels exiting the Welland River. Oxen on

1512-458: The river was done by Augustus Jones in 1786. The survey set aside a one chain reserve along the bank of the river for military purposes; one chain being equivalent to 20 metres (66 ft). Despite this reserve, early settlers extended their fences to the river. In 1791, the Land Board ordered that the fences be removed to permit the reserve's use as a public road. The Niagara Road quickly became

1554-412: The road would tow boats against the rapid current of the Niagara River as they exited the canal and continued south to Lake Erie. In 1833, a large cut was made to connect the canal with Port Colborne , eliminating the use of the road as a towpath. It continued to be used as a public road until the government gave the reserve to the Niagara Parks Commission in 1891. In 1908, after receiving approval from

1596-515: The section from Hiram Street to Glenview Avenue belongs to the City of Niagara Falls . Despite this, it is still signed as part of the Niagara Parkway. The Niagara River Recreation Trail, a mixed-use pedestrian and cycling path, follows 53 km (33 mi) of the length of the parkway between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie. The parkway begins at the old Fort Erie, south of the Peace Bridge , where it

1638-484: The streets full of furniture". In the 1830s, Queenston was terminus for a first horse-drawn railway, the Erie and Ontario. The subsequent steam railroad that started in around 1854 bypassed Queenston. In nearby St. David's, the Queenston Quarry was founded in 1837, and for 150 years stone was shipped here to help build many of Ontario's cities. Toronto buildings that benefitted from the supply of stone included Queen's Park,

1680-537: The village below. Nearby is a smaller monument to Brock's gray horse, Alfred, which may, or may not, have been at Queenston during the battle. Queenston Heights is one of the National Historic Sites of Canada , so recognized in June 1968. The settlement of Queenston was destroyed on 10 December 1813. British Captain William Hamilton Merritt later said that he saw "nothing but heaps of coals, and

1722-462: The western side. Approaching the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake , the road becomes known as Queen's Parade. It diverges from the river and travels northwest towards the town, ending at Fort George. The Niagara Parkway is one of the oldest roads in Ontario. Predating it, an aboriginal trail along the west side of the Niagara River existed before the arrival of Europeans. The first survey along the length of

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1764-462: Was spelled as Queenstown . Queenston marks the southern terminus of the Bruce Trail . The cairn marking the trail's terminus is in a parking lot, about 160 metres (520 ft) from General Brock's Monument on the easterly side of the monument's park grounds. Queenston was first settled in the 1770s by Loyalist refugees and immigrants from the United States. By 1807, the village had 100 homes and

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