This year marks the bicentennial of one of the most famous battles in Canadian history: the Battle of Queenston Heights. At that Battle, on October 13, 1812, Sir Isaac Brock, the hero of Upper Canada (or what is now the province of Ontario), was killed during the battle, defending Canada from the American invasion.
Located not very far from Niagara Falls, Ontario and located along the Niagara Parkway a 56 metre high memorial to Major General Brock towers over the horizon, overlooking the Niagara river with simply spectacular views.
At Queenston Heights, there is a small restaurant which serves a varied menu including veal, lamb and Pickeral fillet. Also served are a number of the local wines.. Ask for a table that overlooks the Niagara River. The view is simply spectacular. http://www.niagaraparks.com/dining/queenston-heights-restaurant.html. If you get a chance, be sure to climb up the Brock statue. The view from their is even more spectacular. It is a long climb, however, so be prepared. It will be well worth your while.
Just below Queenston Heights is a small, but quite interesting museum called the Riverbrink Art Museum. www.riverbrink.org. Located a short distance from the river, this three story museum currently is dedicated to showcasing artifacts relating to the War of 1812. There are also some very interesting Native American portraits. The Native Americans supported the British in that war. Unfortunately, the museum will shortly be closing for the season on October 28, but if you get a chance, see it by all means.
Farther along the Niagara Parkway is Fort George. Located along the Niagara River, Fort George was the most important British outpost in Upper Canada.It served as Canada's protection of the Niagara River which was the easiest water route between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. It is in the city of Niagara-on-the-Lake, which I have written about several times. Niagara on the Lake: A Hidden Jewel. .http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2012/04/ni
agara-on-lake-hidden-jewel.html
The Offiers' Dining Room
The fort is a recreation of the original fort and is a wonderful place to gain an understanding of the British or loyalist point of view, A tour guide will take you through the incredibly crowded and barren enlisted mens' barracks and the luxurious officers' quarters. Our tour guide, Suzanne, was a real Anglophile and she gloried in her view that the British were the winners of the war. Others take a different view. In fact, there is a book called"The War of 1812:The War Both Sides Won"by Wesley B. Turner that is quite good and on sale at the small gift shop just outside the fort.
