Victoria, BC is home to one of Canada's oldest western forts, Fort Rod Hill.
Set on a beautiful property overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Fort Rod Hill was built in 1890 to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base from possible Russian attackers.
For a complete history of Fort Rod Hill visit Fort Rod Hill National Historic Site .
We spent a few hours exploring the fort when we visited Vancouver Island in September. 
The fort is surrounded by a beautiful, weathered stone wall.
Entrance to one of the underground artillery magazines. If you visit, you'll be able to go down in the concrete tunnels and explore the old rooms and artillery stores.
The soldiers stayed in these military barracks. They had all of the basics necessary to be comfortable and stay warm while living at Fort Rod Hill.
Artillery magazines being stored underground at Fort Rod Hill.
Fire equipment at Fort Rod Hill.
Black-tailed deer wander freely at Fort Rod Hill and are relatively tame.
Fort Rod Hill artillery guns.
Wildflowers grow freely on the beach below Fort Rod Hill.
For a lesson in Canadian history and to view some beautiful scenery and wildlife, a visit to Victoria would not be complete without visiting Fort Rod Hill.
Located at the same site as the Fisgard Lighthouse, Fort Rod Hill is a short drive outside of Victoria.
©2010JoSmith
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Brekland Realty Group, Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com |
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Your Choice Realty , Mississauga, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com |
I'd absolutely love to see this fort. Lots of history and beautiful pictures to take me through the tour virtually...thanks!
Jo, I agree with Sally. I would love to come and see the area. You photos are great and really let us feel like we got to visit the fort. Those wildflowers are the California Golden Poppy or at least in California they are! Nice Localism post!
Jo, another photographic tour de force... It's nice to see the yellow wildflowers in the middle of winter when we just got two feet of snow!
Brian
Jo, These pictures are stunning. I almost had a sense of being there (and wish I were) to experience this in person! Thank you for the tour.
Jo,
That was a great trip that you had, and it's fortunate that you are a photographer.
Brian
Sally,
I can picture you there with your camera in hand...I know you would take a ton of beautiful shots.
Jo
Jeanean,
Thank you for letting me know what the flowers are...poppies are amongst my favourite flowers so it's no wonder I was so attracted to them!
Jo
Brian
I heard that you were getting hammered with snow down there....our grass is still green up here and we have no snow!
Jo
Jo - The most common poppie we see is red so it is always great to see some of the other colours as well. I suspect you may also have some excellent pictures and information on forts in south eastern Ontario to share with us.
Kathy,
Red poppies are very popular around Ontario....I've grown the pastel shades of poppies in my garden, however have never seen orange ones before.
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Old Fort Henry in Kingston...the day I was there I had forgotten my camera!
Jo
Hi Jo,
We got another two feet of snow yesterday on top of the two feet we already had - record snow accumulation in February. All offices shut down including Government offices - unbelievable...
Brian