Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

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Gibraltar Point

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2008

A little ways to the left of the Hanlan's Point ferry dock on Toronto Island is this Ontario Heritage Trust plaque which says:

Coordinates: 43.627774 -79.389535

Because of its large and easily-defended harbour Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe decided to make Toronto the naval and military centre of Upper Canada. This site, guarding the harbour, was named Gibraltar Point. Fortification was begun here in 1794 and by 1800 two defensible storehouses and a guardhouse had been erected. These buildings were destroyed by the Americans during their second raid on York (Toronto) in 1813. By the following May a small blockhouse mounting one gun had been constructed. This building, in ruins by 1823, was dismantled some time before 1833 and not replaced. This area later became known as Hanlan's Point after the family of the world-champion sculler 'Ned' Hanlan who settled near here.

Related webpages
Toronto Harbour
Upper Canada
blockhouse

More plaques found on Toronto Island
Allan A. Lamport Regatta Course
Babe Ruth at Hanlan's Point
English's Boathouse

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse
Island Filtration Plant
Island Water Treatment Plant

The Lake Light
Manitou Road
Milton Acorn and Gwendolyn MacEwen
Ned Hanlan 1855-1908
Queen City Yacht Club
Residents or Parks? Remaking Toronto Island

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club
St. Andrew-by-the-Lake
Toronto Island

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