Pete's Historic Walking Tour

Welcome to Canada’s first City, Saint John, New Brunswick, the only city on the Bay of Fundy, home of the world’s highest tides. Meet at Area 506 Waterfront Container Village entrance, and proceed along historic Water Street to Market Square to access the City’s indoor pedway system. This avoids an uphill walk on King St, the steepest main street in Canada. The tour is flat, with a downhill section near the end. Copies of rare photos are used during the tour. Historical facts are featured, from 1783 until the present day. Your knowledgeable guide will focus on numerous points of interest and hidden gems including the history of Saint John over the last 243 years. The final part of the tour is on Prince William St, once known as the Wall St of Canada.

Itinerary

1. On Water Street ,on the way to Market Square, the tour stops at Furlongs liquor store. (10 min)
2. From the exterior area or Market Square, your guide will show where the Loyalist Landing in 1783 occurred, where the Great Fire of Saint John began, and the location of the Prince Charles and Lady Diana walkabout Details and history are provided. Inside Market Square is the Marco Polo sailing ship model; the history of the famous ship is given. (15 min)
3. Here in city hall the history of Pete's Pub, owned by your tour guide is told. Stories about sports and entertainment and 35 years at the pub. (15 min)
4. Architectural features of the city market, along with its history, are shared by your guide. Extra few minutes to shop here .Oldest continuously operating market in Canada. (10 min)
5. On Charlotte Street after leaving the City Market your guide will show you large murals of famous Saint John people. This is a hidden gem, down an alley. (10 min)
6. All of the main points of this park established in 1785 will be pointed out by your guide, including a mass of molten metal from the Great Fire, the William Young statue, the Charles Gorman statue, and the King Edward vii Bandstand. (10 min)
7. Across from King Square on King Square South Street is the Irving Oil Headquarters. The history of the Irving family in New Brunswick is told by your guide ,beginning with K.C. Irving in 1899. (5 min)
8. The history of the theatre is given by your guide ,beginning as a vaudeville theatre in 1913.The chandeliers and other features are explained. (10 min)
9. As the guide shows you the Admiral Beatty building, beside the Imperial Theatre on King Square South ,its history is told, beginning as a luxury hotel in 1925.Famous visitors are noted ,including Amelia Earhart before the famous transatlantic flight . (10 min)
10. Your guide will describe all of the features and history of the Loyalist Church ,including the four main artifacts held there. (15 min)
11. Your tour proceeds on Germain Street, after leaving Trinity Church ,named after Lord George Germain, whose history will be noted. Directly across from the front of Trinity Church on Germain is the Union Club, a business club from 1884. The club's interesting history is examined. (5 min)
12. At Germain and Princess Streets the tour turns right on Princess Street in order to reach Prince William Street. There is a good example on this corner of the way in which a newer building has been constructed to conform to preservation standards. Next to this is the historic Ritchie building, and its features will be explained by your guide. (10 min)
13. After a downhill on Princess to Prince William ,your guide will show you all of the main buildings and other features of this street ,once known as the Wall Street of Canada. These include Chubb's Corner with the carved stone heads ,old City Hall, the old post office, the Jarvis building, Bank of New Brunswick Palatine building ,and the Seamen's Mission .Directly across from the mission is the Partridge Island mural, depicting the history of the island and immigration. Immigration and quarantine at Partridge Island will be explained, especially the Irish during the Potato famine. (15 min)
14. The tour proceeds to the Three Sisters Lamp in St. Patrick Park at the foot of Prince William Street. The reasons for the name and how the lamps saved lives are explained. (5 min)
15. The tour finishes at the Marco Polo cruise terminal and Area 506 Waterfront Container Village. Your guide will tell a history of the cruise industry in Saint John, including how it all began. (5 min)

Meeting & end point