Heart's Content Attractions
Heart's Content, in its lovely setting, was founded in 1650, making it one of the oldest places on the coast.
In 1866 the first transatlantic cable reached here, covering a distance of about 4440 km (2760 mi.) from Ireland, and for a century it remained North America's most important relay station, taking 3000 messages a day, until automation led to its closure in 1965.
The cable station has been declared a provincial historical site and has been converted into an interesting museum which is open daily in July and August. It tells the story of communications from earliest times to the present, with a separate section dedicated to the transatlantic cable and the role that Heart's Content played in it, plus a replica of the cable station's first office.
The 81 km (50 mi.) journey south back to St John's via Highway 80 passes through scenic fishing villages such as Heart's Delight, Cavendish, Whiteway (strange rock formations) and Green's Harbour, picking up the TransCanada Highway at the end of Trinity Bay.
In 1866 the first transatlantic cable reached here, covering a distance of about 4440 km (2760 mi.) from Ireland, and for a century it remained North America's most important relay station, taking 3000 messages a day, until automation led to its closure in 1965.
The cable station has been declared a provincial historical site and has been converted into an interesting museum which is open daily in July and August. It tells the story of communications from earliest times to the present, with a separate section dedicated to the transatlantic cable and the role that Heart's Content played in it, plus a replica of the cable station's first office.
The 81 km (50 mi.) journey south back to St John's via Highway 80 passes through scenic fishing villages such as Heart's Delight, Cavendish, Whiteway (strange rock formations) and Green's Harbour, picking up the TransCanada Highway at the end of Trinity Bay.
