Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province on the Atlantic Coast that includes the island of Newfoundland, is a region rich with both Native American and European history. With evidence of pre-historic Paleo-Eskimo settlements, Norse viking landing sites dating back over 1,000 years and the region's role in European maritime trading, the province has a distinctive past that has been commemorated with several monuments.
National War Memorial
Located in St. Johns, the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, and originally built in 1924 to honor Newfoundland and Labrador's soldiers who fought and died in World War I, two more plaques were later added to the monument to commemorate those from the province who lost their lives in World War II and the Korean War. Bronze figures depicting a soldier, a sailor, a fisherman and lumberjack adorn pedestals around the center of the monument upon which is the figure of a woman holding a torch for freedom and a sword for battle.
L'Anse Aux Meadows
According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Official Tourism website, L'Anse Aux Meadows is the site where vikings built a settlement some 1,000 years ago. L'Anse Aux Meadows was designated a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1978, and tours of the site are led by costumed guides. Those interested in delving deeper can travel to nearby Norstead, a re-creation of a viking port, where they can learn more about life as a viking, including such traditional skills as axe throwing.
Point Amour Lighthouse
According to Pointamourlighthouse.ca, the Point Amour Lighthouse was originally built in the 1850s and stands 109 feet tall, offering a view of the surrounding waters and lands. The lighthouse is the tallest on the Atlantic Coast of Canada and the second-tallest in the entire country. The lighthouse serves as a monument to the region's past as it is home to exhibits portraying the maritime history of the Labrador Straits.
Signal Hill
According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Official Tourism website, the hill offers a scenic view as it overlooks St. Johns, Newfoundland, as well as the harbor, coastline and surrounding hills. The hill, capped by Cabot Tower, has been fought over countless times for its tactical military advantage, and Charles Lindbergh flew by Signal Hill on his 1927 flight from New York to Paris. Cabot Tower is named after John Cabot, the 15th-century European explorer who re-discovered Newfoundland in 1497. Signal Hill is also where Guglielmo Marconi received the first wireless transatlantic communication in 1901.
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