Ardgowan National Historic Site

Ardgowan National Historic Site is located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island is a small cottage from the third quarter of the nineteenth century. The estate has a cottage of William Henry Pope, who is known as one of the Fathers of Confederation. This house once used to host the members and witnesses of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864. It was in this house where the members of the confederations formed a new national vision. Back then it was a large estate that is now just a two-hectare piece of land that contains a beautiful house, a barn, and a garden. It was in this old cottage William Henry Pope hosted lunch for the members and delegates during the conference in September 1964.

Designated in 1966, the Ardgowan National Historic Site was taken over by the national park service in 1967, the year of the centennial of Confederation. The site is preserved as an example of the striking rustic Victorian cottage as a mark of honor for all Fathers of Confederation.

The building and grounds of the historic sites are given an appearance of a beautiful cottage and a garden similar to those in 1860. The grounds are now open to the public and the building is the office to the administrative staff of Parks Canada that administers all the national park system sites on Prince Edward Island.

Most of the parts of the cottage from the confederation era are intact, but the succeeding owners added windows to the facade and did many other extensions. It was in 1967 that Parks Canada took over the Ardgowan and restored the building for their official use in 1980-82. Later on, they added a single central section and an east wing in 1994.

The key elements that define striking elements that add to the heritage value of the place include the front center block and stepped west wing which is the 1854-1873 part of the Ardgowan residence. The interior and the exterior of the house carry the Gothic Revival detailing in the chimneys and the verandah. The verandah, front door, and window show excellent use of materials and craftsmanship from that era. Two big rooms in the west wing and the central room on the ground floor still have the original layout and materials on the framing, windows, doors, and slate mantlepieces.

The original H-shaped footprint of the house also adds to its historic value. This wooden H-shaped structure links the east wing and the west wing.

Ardgowan House is a national historic site of Canada since 1982 and a well-known regional landmark and is one of the top tourist attractions.

267 Grafton St

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