Port Royal

Port Royal

A day or two before the actual Horizons' Unlimited meeting, I travelled from Annapolis Royal over to the historic site of Port Royal.  I have been very impressed with the federal governments' efforts to preserve our history, and I was not disappointed with the quality of thePort Royal site.

Annapolis Royal is situated on the old Fort Anne site, and Port Royal is across the basin...

 Annapolis Royal was reconstructed by local craftsmen, using traditional tools.  While fairly small, the site is true to historical details, and gives one a very good impression of life in 1600 early North America.

The craftsmanship of the restoring builders was exemplary.  They duplicated the original methods and materials of the first builders.

All of the joints were hand-hewn and pinned with dowels.  Not a nail in sight...

 An early pharmacy....

 I remember learning about Champlains' "circle of good cheer" in Elementary school.  The ghosts of the early habitants filled the kitchen...

I was very impressed with the carpentry and attention to detail which the restorers paid to the site...

Some of the early MicMac designs replicated on animal skins...

The knees and rafters were similar to the construction of the ribs of a ship: all formed from the natural bend of selected tree...

 Drying a few herbs....

 I am guessing that quite a few of the inhabitants required this particular cordial....

This was one big wolf pelt...

Clearly Mr. Beaver was the hidden gold of the New World...

 Again, an excellent reproduction of a birch bark canoe by the heritage people...

The handiwork was worthy of a Whistler log building....

I have no problem with our Federal Government spending our tax dollars on these sites which preserve and educate us to our history and heritage...