Fort Edward National Historic Site

Fort Edward National Historic Site sits on a bluff above the town of Windsor, guarding the view over the Minas Basin and the Avon River valley. It is home to North America's oldest surviving military blockhouse, built in 1750 — a square, two-storey timber structure that has stood on this hill for nearly three centuries. The site is managed by Parks Canada and designated a national historic site, and it offers one of the most evocative pieces of 18th-century military history in the Maritimes, all set on a quiet, grassy hilltop that feels a world away from the highway below. Best of all, it is free to visit, making it an easy and worthwhile stop on any Bay of Fundy road trip through the Windsor area.

A key post in colonial Nova Scotia

Fort Edward was built by Major Charles Lawrence in 1750 to secure the overland route between Annapolis Royal — then the capital of Nova Scotia — and the new British capital at Halifax, founded the year before. The fort's position high above the river gave it command of the main land and water routes through the region, and it played a busy role in the decades that followed: a base during the Seven Years' War, a mustering point during the American Revolution, and an active post through the War of 1812. It is also a place with a difficult history — after the Acadian deportation order of 1755, Acadian families were held at Fort Edward before being transported from the area. Interpretive panels around the grounds tell the fort's full story, including this chapter, with care and context.

The blockhouse

The blockhouse is the star of the site — the oldest in North America and one of the few remaining examples of its type. Built of massive squared timbers, the two-storey structure was designed to house troops and withstand attack; its overhanging upper storey allowed defenders to fire down on anyone approaching the walls. Visitors can go inside when it is open (July and August, typically Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), where a small exhibit explains the fort's construction and history. The blockhouse is the only surviving building of the original fort — the rest of the defences, including the earthworks that still trace their way across the property, were allowed to decay after the site was abandoned as a military post.

The grounds and trail

The grounds at Fort Edward are open year-round and free to explore. A short 1.3-kilometre walking trail loops around the property, passing the earthworks and leading to viewpoints over the Minas Basin — on a clear day you can see across the water toward the North Mountain and the Fundy tides beyond. There are picnic tables, plenty of open grass, and parking on site, and the property is wheelchair accessible. In summer, Parks Canada interpreters are on site to answer questions and bring the fort's story to life; outside the summer season, the interpretive panels and the blockhouse exterior carry the story on their own. Note that the trail is not maintained in winter, and the grounds receive no winter maintenance.

Planning your visit

Fort Edward is at 67 Fort Edward Street in Windsor, a five-minute drive from the town centre and roughly an hour from Halifax via Highway 101 (Exit 5). It pairs naturally with other Windsor-area stops: the Howard Dill Enterprises pumpkin farm on College Road, the Windsor Hockey Heritage Museum downtown (Windsor claims the title of hockey's birthplace), or a drive up the valley to the Fundy Discovery Site to watch the tidal bore. The site is a common stop for bus tours, and the combination of free admission, genuine historical significance, and sweeping views makes it one of the best-value heritage experiences in the Bay of Fundy region. For current blockhouse hours — which shift slightly from year to year — check the Parks Canada website or call 902-798-2639 in summer, 902-532-2321 the rest of the year.