Prince of Wales Fort

The Prince of Wales Fort near Churchill, which is now a National Historic Site of Canada, was a fortified base of the Hudson's Bay Company, a fur trading company, in the 18th century.

The fortress was meant to be an unassailable English stronghold, and its imposing high walls and 40 mounted cannon, as well as the battery, gun, and powder store built to protect it on Cape Merry, are still standing today. Explorer Samuel Hearne, as commander of the fort, ceded it to the French in 1782, effectively ending Hudson's Bay's possession and the fort's utility.

In 1920, Prince of Wales Fort was recognized as a national historic site, and in 1933, Sloop Cove and Cape Merry were added. The ruin known as Prince of Wales Fort is historically and architecturally significant.

The Prince of Wales Fort's magnificent remains feature a star-shaped structure with thick stone walls and a battery with 40 mounted cannons. There is also a tourist center with exhibits and information on the history of the Prince of Wales Fort. It is now considered one of the most beautiful historical sites in Canada, so it attracts a lot of tourists. Visitors can go whale watching on the way to the fort on the boat, as around 3,000 beluga whales congregate in the Churchill River in July and August.

Location: Prince of Wales Fort, Churchill, MB R0B 0E0, Canada