Heritage
Kingston's strategic location has had a significant role in shaping its history. Located halfway between Montreal and Toronto, it is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario where the Great Cataraqui River flows into the west limit of the St. Lawrence River.
It has long been a meeting place for the First Nations and is one of the earliest sites of European settlement in North America. Kingston hosts more than 85 identified archaeological sites (both marine and terrestrial). The UNESCO World Heritage designation for the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications and includes Kingston's Fort Henry and its picturesque Martello Towers. Kingston marks the entrance to the Rideau Canal itself.
Kingston was the first capital of a united Canada, was home to Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, and boasts North America's oldest continuously-running public market in Market Square, behind Kingston City Hall — itself a National Historic site.
Today Kingston is an eclectic mix of old and new, reflecting its motto that it is a place "where history and innovation thrive". Nicknamed the "Limestone City," the City of Kingston is known for its cultural heritage resources, and comparisons have been made to Quebec City, Savannah and Charleston.
The City's built/designed heritage properties, cultural heritage landscapes, and museums are major tourist draws and an important part of the City's overall economic development. The City has nearly 700 properties on its Register of Heritage Properties and more than 500 properties identified as possibly having 'cultural heritage value'.
There are four components to the City's Cultural Heritage Program: Built/Designed Heritage (Ontario Heritage Act Properties, Cultural Landscapes); Archaeology (Marine and Terrestrial); First Nations; and Public Education.
