Parliament Hill

Once the site of military barracks, the development of Parliament Hill began in 1859 as a result of Queen Victoria proclaiming Ottawa as capital of the “United Province of Canada.” Touring through the Centre Block and Library of Parliament gives you a glimpse into modern Canadian government, while its Victorian Gothic Revival architectural details recall the grandeur of the past. In the summer, visitors arrive early to see the 19th-century military pageantry of the Changing of the Guard ceremony.