Saint John: Travel and Historical Information

Alyssa Ast
The bustling community of Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada, is not only an ideal tourist location, but home to a wide variety of nationalities and cultures. A large portion of residents arrive from Europe, Latin America, and South Asia. The total percentage of new arrivals within Saint John is 3.8%, arriving in the community with a warm welcome. This culture diversity offers the city limitless attractions and the ideal experience for anyone looking to travel to the area.

The Reversing Rapids

The natural attractions of Saint John triumph any other. One of the greatest attractions in the city is the Reversing Rapids. The Reversing Rapids is a beautiful phenomenon where the rise and fall of the Bay of Fundy tides are of the highest in the world. The tides rise to an estimated 28 feet. As the tides rise and fall, the scenery alters from deep pools to a minuet flow as the tide lowers.

Educational Experiences

Saint John is home to a variety of educational experiences for the entire family. You can learn the history of this natural splendor in the New Brunswick Museum. Here you can learn 350 million years of vibrate history in the area. Other educational experiences include water activities, nature watching, and nature parks.

Enjoy the Community

Not only is the city an ideal location to view the splendors of nature, but a great place to experience other cultures and heritages. As you stroll the streets of the city you will be beckoned by fine shopping experiences, cultural dining, and local art galleries. Partaking in these events is the ideal method to fully appreciate the Saint John lifestyle.

Arts and Antiques

The eccentric community of Saint John flourishes with cultural arts. The streets are lined with vibrant art galleries and antique shops. The cultural diversity found within these shops gives residents and tourist the rich feel and history of this unique city. The art and antiques that can be found within these quaint shops have something to offer everyone, whether your taste is for contemporary or traditional art.

Beautifully sculptured pieces by well renowned artists can easily be found within these local shops. Local Galleries include: Cobalt Gallery, Handworks Gallery, Hooper Studios and Gallery, Peter Buckland Gallery, Third Space Gallery, and Trinity Galleries. You can take a stroll through history and view extraordinary antiques and art pieces at New Brunswick Museum, Saint John Arts Centre, and Tim Isaac Antiques.

Historic Churches

Saint John thrives with historic churches due to the abundance of cultural background. There are five historic churches in the area that are defiantly a must-see to truly value the community.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a unique neo-gothic roman catholic church. Built in 1853, the church is a true architectural spectacular. Souring 300 feet above sea level, the unique details of the church are an endless eyesight experience. The church contains a beautiful organ that is composed of 3,000 pipes, ranging from 16 feet to 1 inch in length, producing a sound unmatched to any other.

Church of St. Andrew and St. David

The welcoming community of the Church of St. Andrew and St. David is composed of a diverse Christian fellowship. The church truly exhibit's the history of the area because it was built from the ruins of the Victoria Hotel in 1877, after the devastating Great Fire. Hand carvings add exceptional detail and beauty to the church, which contain limestone from the area and the bricks from the Victoria Hotel.

St. George's Church

The St. George Church is the more modern looking of the 5 historic churches in the area but equally as appealing. Although the church was built in 1821, the main attraction to the church was not added until 1890. At this time a mechanically driven pendulum clock was added to the church. As the church continued to grow and develop through out the years it became home to a wide variety of activities, including choir, kindergarten programs, and weekly classes.

St. John's Angelica Church

The St. John's Angelica Church is known as the daughter to the Trinity Church. Built in 1825, this is a very historic structure because it was among the first stone buildings in the Saint John community. Each stone has its own piece of history because each stone originated from England, entwining the structure with a vibrant history.

St. Luke's Church Natural Historic Site

As you travel the Kennebecasis River you come to an amazing spectacular, the St. Luke's Church Natural Historic Site. With beautifully arched ceilings, the inside of the church is unique from all others. The hull of a ship composes the inside of the church, even including wooden pegs. This unique aspect of the church gives travelers a church experience unlike any other religious setting.

Trinity Church

The current Trinity Church replaced a prior wooden church in 1880, which was destroyed in the Great Fire that stated the creation of the Church of St. Andrew and St. David. The beauty of the church is derived from the Royal Coat of Arms from the House of Hanover. Although the original Trinity Church dates back to only 1791, the history goes back much further as this coat of arms is estimated to originate from England in 1714.

Saint John really is a marvel of a community. Every corner is filled with history and eye popping sights. The educational experience, combined with the history and adventure aspects of the city, make this the ideal travel location.

References:

"Welcome to Saint John" See Saint John

"Local History" New Brunswick

"Saint John" Canada City

Published by Alyssa Ast

Alyssa Ast is a freelance writer, journalist, and author of The Fundamentals of SEO for the Average Joe. Alyssa is the co-founder of the WM Network, which includes the WM Freelance Writer's Connection.  View profile

1 Comments

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  • Jenny Powers6/30/2010

    Saint John sounds like another place I need to add to my list of places to visit.

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