When looking up activities to see and experience during our most recent trip to the Halifax area, I stumbled across the Prince of Wales Tower. As a bit of a history buff, the site intrigued me. I knew it was old, but didn’t know how old. As an added bonus, I saw that the tower is located in beautiful Point Pleasant. Surely this would make for a great adventure.
The Prince of Wales Tower is about a 10-minute walk from the Point Pleasant parking lot. My partner and I enjoyed the walk – it was nice to take in some of that fresh air and admire the greenery that surrounded us. Once we reached the tower, we were impressed by its size and, thanks to the information plaque attached to the site, we learned a little bit about its historical significance: It was built between 1796 and 1799 to “guard Halifax against seaborne attack from the Northwest Arm” and, in 1864, was converted to “a defensible depot magazine.” The conversion ensured the tower’s survival. The tower is in really good shape for a structure that’s over 200 years old. I only wish it was open to visitors, perhaps with a guide, to further contextualize the site and really drive home its significance.
My verdict? If you’re in Point Pleasant Park, then I’d recommend checking it out; however, don’t do what we did and visit the site for the sole purpose of seeing the tower – it’s kind of underwhelming in that respect. Oh well, at least we were able to take advantage of the decent weather and enjoy our freshly made Brothers Meat sandwiches at the nearby picnic tables!