#111 Jun 2015 St. John's NL Really Old!

From Bonavista Peninsula we headed to St. John’s on the far eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula.

In 1497 John Cabot sailed into what is now St. John’s Harbour. The following is a replica of the Matthew built for the 500^th anniversary of his landing.

 

St. John’s has been crucial in the defense of eastern North America and the North Atlantic. From the beginning of year round settlement in 1630 there have been British, French, American and Canadian military presences and battles including the First and Second World Wars.

 

Signal Hill overlooks the Narrows leading into St. John’s Harbour.

Cabot Tower was constructed on Signal Hill to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of Cabot’s arrival.

 

In 1901 Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in a vacant wing of the Diphtheria and Fever Hospital near the Cabot Tower.

Signal Hill rocks existed before almost all forms-of-life on earth.

Johnson Geo Centre is cut from the ancient rock of Signal Hill and presents an impressive story and display of the evolution of our planet Earth and its people.

The Geo Centre explains:

Our place in our solar system 

Exploring our solar system

The geologic history of the earth (see post #106 for more info)

The movement of humans over millennia (see post #108 for sculpture of east meets west)

An incredible overview of the story of the Titanic

The evolution of the Hibernia Oilfield.

St. John’s is one of the oldest settlements in North America and Water Street is the oldest street in North America.

Jellybean coloured houses cling to incredibly steep, twisting streets.

Downtown George Street boasts two blocks of nothing but restaurants and pubs. Vehicles are allowed in the morning for restaurants and bars to replenish their stocks. After that pedestrians are free to wander and explore the flavours of the establishments and their buildings.

In 1989 the port recorded 1,000 commercial ship arrivals representing 22 nationalities.

Over more than 500 years St. John's has endured possesion by many nations, wars, changing economies, unstable sources of wealth and still possesses the charm and hospitality for which Newfoundlanders are renowned.