Exploring Downtown Kingston’s Most Iconic Historic Landmarks
If you love history, downtown Kingston feels like an open-air museum.
Packed with 19th-century architecture, old military roots, and rich maritime stories, the history of the city still lives on in its landmarks and buildings today. Whether you're hanging out in Springer Market Square or looking out over the harbor, you can feel the city’s deep-rooted history around every corner. Now let's explore some of downtown's most iconic historic landmarks.
Springer Market Square
This is one of the most iconic spots in Downtown Kingston, but Springer Market Square is more than just a beautiful open space connected to City Hall. It’s been at the heart of the city for over 200 years.
As early as 1788, informal markets were already taking place on this site, making it the center of trade and community in early Kingston. By the time Market Square was officially founded in 1801, Kingston was a small town of just 1,000 people, and the market quickly became its economic and social hub. With few permanent shops, it was where people came to buy, sell, and connect.
The Square also became the stage for important moments in history. On July 8th, 1792, the proclamation of the Constitutional Act by Lieutenant Governor Sir John Graves Simcoe happened here, officially establishing Upper Canada as its own jurisdiction. The proclamation of Confederation (the formation of the Dominion of Canada) was even announced in Springer Market Square.
As the city grew, so did the market. By the mid-1800s, Kingston’s population was around 6,000 people, and the area became surrounded by hotels and merchant shops. The market itself was filled with simple wooden stalls, which were called the “market shambles.”
In 1840, a devastating fire destroyed much of the market and surrounding buildings. This led to a major transformation of the downtown core, as the city rebuilt using limestone; shaping much of the Kingston we recognize today.
Today, Market Square remains one of the most iconic spots in Downtown Kingston. More than just a beautiful open space, it continues to be a gathering place for the community. From the Public Market to festivals and seasonal events, it’s still where people come together; just as they have for over 200 years.
Shoal Tower
Have you ever wondered what those stout, thick-walled stone cylinder structures with red roofs are that are scattered along the Kingston waterfront (and across Canada)?
One of them, located in Kingston Harbour (Confederation Basin), is Shoal Tower; one of the Martello Towers - small defensive forts built across the British Empire during the 19th century.
Shoal Tower, originally known as Victoria Tower, was built between 1846 and 1848, alongside three other towers, to strengthen Kingston’s military fortifications when tensions with the United States threatened to escalate into war. Featuring massive round walls and surrounded entirely by water, it helped protect the Royal Naval Dockyard, which provided ships for the defence of Lake Ontario.
Constructed offshore from the site of the historic City Hall and Market Square, the tower was strategically placed to protect Kingston’s commercial harbour and the entrance to the Rideau Canal, with its commanding field of fire.
The engineering behind the tower also draws attention. The level of efficiency achieved in terms of operation, materials, durability, and low maintenance highlights its thoughtful design: the thick stone double walls are bombproof and contain stairs and ventilation shafts; the exterior walls, built of limestone blocks, slightly incline inward as they rise, helping reduce the chance of damage at the base; the low, cone-shaped snow roof covering the top platform improves functionality during harsh conditions such as snowstorms. Inside, brick-lined walls and a ventilated powder magazine on the lower level allow air to circulate, keeping gunpowder stable and reducing the risk of explosions, while also being more protected and secure.
Today, Shoal Tower stands unchanged in the Kingston Harbour. It serves not only as a window into colonial history and British imperial strategy, but also as a geographical landmark and point of orientation for locals, boaters, and visitors.
Photo credit: Katherine Palumbo
S.S Keewatin
If you think the story of Edwardian passenger liners ended with the Titanic, think again. Older than the legendary ocean liner itself, the S.S. Keewatin is homed right here in Kingston at The Great Lakes Museum.
Built in 1907 in Glasgow, Scotland, by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd. for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail), the Keewatin is the last surviving Edwardian passenger steamship of her kind. While her sister ship was sadly scrapped following a fire in 1970, the Keewatin stands alone as a rare survivor from her time.
For decades, CP Rail steamships like the Keewatin served as vital lifelines across the Great Lakes. Long before commercial air travel dominated long-distance transit, these ships ferried tourists, settlers, and cargo through the waterways until their retirement in the 1960s.
Stepping onto the Keewatin is like stepping into a floating time capsule. Visitors can marvel at details like original woodwork, period furnishings, and classic brass fittings that harken back to the height of early 20th-century craftsmanship. You can book your S.S Keewatin Experience tour on the Great Lakes Museum website.
For history enthusiasts looking to dive deeper, several books have been written detailing the ship's intricate technical specifications and operational history.
From strategic towers standing guard over the water to beloved community landmarks, these sites remind us of those who came before us. The next time you find yourself wandering along the waterfront or Springer Market Square, take a moment to look closer and remember that you aren’t just visiting Kingston, you’re walking through history.
