Signal Hill

2010.08.12

We went on to Signal Hill (a Canadian National Historic Site). It is a high hill overlooking the ocean and the narrows that lead to St. John's harbor. While it had various structures there in the more distant past, the Cabot Tower was built there just over a century ago. It was from this vantage point that lookouts would raise various flags to signal the type of approaching vessel.

It was from this hill that Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic signal. The accomplishment, while cheered by most at the time, was not met with favor by the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable folks and Marconi had to watch his back.

From the Cabot Tower area we saw the Signal Hill Tattoo down below near the visitor center. That's Redcoats with fife and drum marching about. :-)

Signal Hill, as St. John's itself, changed hands back and forth between the English and the French during their wars.

Odometer reads 66,525.