Point Frederick Buildings
Text from the plaque
This peninsula, headquarters of the Provincial Marine (c.1790-1813), and of the Royal Navy (1813-1853), was the major British naval base on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Buildings surviving from this period include the Naval Hospital, the Guard House complex, and the Stone Frigate. On the southern part of the peninsula stands Fort Frederick, erected in 1812-13 but completely rebuilt in 1846. In 1875 the Point was chosen as the site of the Royal Military College of Canada which admitted its first class in June 1876.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The County of Frontenac
The City of Kingston
On the left stone gate post at the Valour Drive entrance
to the Royal Military College grounds
N 44 13.844 W 76 28.172
Recorded May 2009. Check current access before visiting.
More views
Where it stands
Visitors' notes
February 15, 2015
Today, February 15, is Flag Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Canadian flag in 1965. This year marks 50 years since the Maple Leaf was first raised. At the military college, the lowering of the Canadian ensign and the raising of the Maple Leaf over the Mackenzie Building took place at noon, 50 years ago today. It was reenacted in a ceremony the other day, and those original two flags were on display at a reception, following the event. Until about two years ago, they were housed in the Martello tower at Point Frederick, a museum on the school's grounds, but high humidity forced them into temporary storage. It would be good to have them on public display again, especially since the college played a role in creating the Canadian flag. Its dean of arts, George Stanley, suggested in 1964 that a new national flag be based on the college flag -- two red bars, and a central white field, with a maple leaf centred upon it in place of the college arms. Today, a plaque at the base of the Mackenzie Building, which once flew that college flag, tells of how that banner inspired our national flag a half century ago. Happy Flag Day! -Wayne
September 13, 2014
On this day (Sept. 10) and at this place, 200 years ago, the greatest warship seen on the Great Lakes in the age of sail was launched. The triple-decked HMS St. Lawrence had 112 guns, and a crew of more than 830. Such a deterrent, it never saw action, and its two sister ships, including HMS Canada, ceased construction in the closing months of the war. The St. Lawrence was later used by a Kingston brewery for storage before a storm took her to the lake bottom not far from shore, where it rests today below the waters it once safeguarded. -Wayne