The Montreal Clock Tower is also called the Tour de l’Horloge and is located in Montreal, Quebec at the Old Port. It is a memorial for the Canadian sailors that were killed in World War I. Construction started on the clock tower in 1919 and finished in 1922. The Prince of Wales laid the cornerstone on October 31, 1919. The clock was actually made in England and its working mechanism is much like the one in Westminster’s Big Ben clock.
Features and History
The tower clock has Beaux-Arts decorative elements. There is a small tower next the clock tower and its style complements the larger tower. The tower originally functioned as a lighthouse to guide incoming ships. It is connected to a long wall that goes to the smaller tower. The wall was built to hide unattractive sheds were next to the quays and made the area look less cluttered.
Inside the clock tower there are some exhibits that present Montreal’s history and maritime traditions. Originally, the tower was supposed to have a carillon with five bells, but it was never built. When the sun sets, lights surrounding the clock tower are illuminated. This creates a particularly beautiful photo opportunity for visitors at the Old Port. In 1996, the Montreal Clock Tower became a Federal Heritage Building and is regarded as an important architectural structure in the city.
The Lookout
The clock tower is 111 feet tall and many people enjoy taking photographs at the top of it. There are nearly two hundred steps that visitors can take to reach the lookout. The top view offers a wonderful sight of the St. Lawrence River, harbor, and other areas in the city.
