The great French fortress at Louisbourg had its beginnings only at the end of Queen Anne's War in 1713, when France's oldest North American settlement, Acadia, and its capital at Port Royal, had fallen to the British, along with the fishing settlements on the French shore of Newfoundland.  The royal government at Paris knew that entrance to the St. Lawrence must be guarded, and built Louisbourg as a symbol not only to protect its interests, but to frighten English settlers all along the North Atlantic seaboard. The British realized that they themselves had to build a city that would challenge Louisbourg for control of the fishing grounds and trading lanes off Nova Scotia. Halifax was the result . the two fortified port cities represented the efforts of these two great European powers to control North America. Historian Donald Friary will discuss the brief history of Louisbourg and the establishment of Halifax and what they meant to the French and to the British on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Friary will also share information about the upcoming NEHGS-sponsored tour of Nova Scotia in July 2012, including Halifax and Louisbourg.

Free and open to the public. Registration is not required.