A WALK THROUGH THE OLD PORT’S HISTORY

A leading figure in shipping and rail, Hugh Allan helped drive the port’s growth and link Montréal to the Great Lakes and markets around the world.

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A larger-than-life figure and philanthropist, Joe Beef fed sailors, dockworkers and people in need, becoming a symbol of solidarity in the Old Port’s 19th-century working-class community.

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Once a major arrival and departure point for ocean liners, Russel Pier (now known as the Grand Quai or Alexandra Pier) welcomed immigrants, travellers and great ships linking Montréal to Europe and the United States.

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The largest preserved heritage tugboat in Canada, the Daniel McAllister bears witness to a century of maritime ingenuity in service of the Port of Montréal.

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Ice, powerful currents and frequent flooding made the river a harsh and hazardous workplace. At great personal risk, underwater workers played a vital role in keeping the port running.

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Installed in 1916, the Victoria Plaque commemorates the inauguration of the Victoria Pier (renamed Clock Tower Pier in 1992) and marks the spot of more than a century of celebrations.

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Opened in 1825, the Lachine Canal allowed ships to bypass the Lachine Rapids, helping transform Montréal into a major industrial and commercial hub in North America.

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This engineering landmark tells the story of the canal’s evolution and the bustling maritime activity that helped define the Old Port.

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Once marked by cranes, conveyors and towering silos, the port helped make Montréal one of the world’s leading grain ports in the early 20th century.

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