The Commissariat

Built in 1827 under the supervision of Thomas MacKay, the Commissariat is the oldest existing stone building in Ottawa and the first permanent structure built on the Rideau Canal. It served for 125 years, first as a depot for the tools, goods, and supplies used by the Royal Engineers of the British military in constructing the Rideau Canal, and later as a support building for canal operations. Restored in 1951 for use as a historical museum, it played an integral role in the successful completion of the Rideau Canal and in the development of Eastern Ontario, while the surrounding Entrance Valley complex of buildings and locks became a focal point for what would become the City of Ottawa.

Ontario · Canada