Discovery Harbour
Had a lovely weekend visit from my Dad. He's only the second person to have one of my crockpot meals (chicken cacciatore) and then we watched "The Rocket", a Quebec-made movie about the life of hockey player Maurice Richard. Today, John, Dad and I drove up to Penetanguishene to check out "Discovery Harbour", a recreation of a British naval base from 1817 to 1822, in the immediate aftermath of the War of 1812.
(Photo: a recreation of the H.M.S. Tecumseth, a warship built to be used by the British during and after the War of 1812. The original hull is still on display in the park.)
Taken on-board the recreation of the H.M.S. Tecumseth. You can see the Admission Office, Theatre, Restaurant and Gift Shop on the shore in the background.
This is Kristie, who was our tour guide through the naval base, showing us various buildings and displays. Here you can see her setting the scene, explaining the history and timeline of Discovery Harbour using an old map of Southern Ontario and the Great Lakes.
Most of the staff at Discovery Harbour were students dressed in authentic period clothing from the days of the naval base. Both Kristie and this guy, who talked to us in the Sailors' Barracks, were dressed as low-ranking sailors (signified by the black tie). He told us how hammocks were not just used for sleeping, but also doubled as coffins for sailors who died aboard ship.
These two students worked as sailors on-board the Tecumseth. Part of the their job, of course, was to swab the decks. We were told as the summer went on the students would swap the positions they had, so they got used to most of the jobs and roles along the tour.
Besides naval roles, the students also took on civilian parts, too. This guy told us it was his second year working in the blacksmith shop on the harbour and he was very skilled and knowledgeable in making authentic-looking nails and knife blades with the forge and bellows he had in his shop.
The crafter in me was intrigued by all the beautiful knotwork on display in the different exhibits, including these ropes found below deck on the Tecumseth- a skill that would have been essential for sailors of the day. The sailors' barracks also had gorgeous knotwork on the tabletops, too. When I asked our tour guide about it, she said all the knotwork was made by the staff and that the students were given books and encouraged to learn how to do the knotwork as part of their training. In the harbour museum there were also exhibits for learning knotwork, too.
Here's John and my Dad retracing their steps as we left the park at the end of the day. An excellent historical exhibit and the scenery around the harbour is just breath-taking. Again, it's always surprising and gratifying that we are able to still find new and impressive places to see within just a few hours of home.
Fun day. Thanks for visiting and joining us, Dad!
(Photo: a recreation of the H.M.S. Tecumseth, a warship built to be used by the British during and after the War of 1812. The original hull is still on display in the park.)
Taken on-board the recreation of the H.M.S. Tecumseth. You can see the Admission Office, Theatre, Restaurant and Gift Shop on the shore in the background.
This is Kristie, who was our tour guide through the naval base, showing us various buildings and displays. Here you can see her setting the scene, explaining the history and timeline of Discovery Harbour using an old map of Southern Ontario and the Great Lakes.
Most of the staff at Discovery Harbour were students dressed in authentic period clothing from the days of the naval base. Both Kristie and this guy, who talked to us in the Sailors' Barracks, were dressed as low-ranking sailors (signified by the black tie). He told us how hammocks were not just used for sleeping, but also doubled as coffins for sailors who died aboard ship.
These two students worked as sailors on-board the Tecumseth. Part of the their job, of course, was to swab the decks. We were told as the summer went on the students would swap the positions they had, so they got used to most of the jobs and roles along the tour.
Besides naval roles, the students also took on civilian parts, too. This guy told us it was his second year working in the blacksmith shop on the harbour and he was very skilled and knowledgeable in making authentic-looking nails and knife blades with the forge and bellows he had in his shop.
The crafter in me was intrigued by all the beautiful knotwork on display in the different exhibits, including these ropes found below deck on the Tecumseth- a skill that would have been essential for sailors of the day. The sailors' barracks also had gorgeous knotwork on the tabletops, too. When I asked our tour guide about it, she said all the knotwork was made by the staff and that the students were given books and encouraged to learn how to do the knotwork as part of their training. In the harbour museum there were also exhibits for learning knotwork, too.
Here's John and my Dad retracing their steps as we left the park at the end of the day. An excellent historical exhibit and the scenery around the harbour is just breath-taking. Again, it's always surprising and gratifying that we are able to still find new and impressive places to see within just a few hours of home.
Fun day. Thanks for visiting and joining us, Dad!