Halifax - Prince of Wales Martello Tower National Historic Site

Prince of Wales Tower National Historic Site of Canada with a round stone tower was built by Prince Edward in 1796. It was the first of its kind in North America, the prototype "Martello Tower". Prince Edward adapted the shape of a similar structure on the island of Corsica which had proved virtually impregnable. The basic idea was to combine soldiers' accommodation, a store-house and cannon mountings in a unit capable of defending itself, surrounded by immensely thick stone walls, with access only by a retractable ladder to the first floor.

Canada subsequently had a great many of these towers which became redundant from about 1870 with the advent of steam engines, metal hulls and improved ship's artillery.

The Prince of Wales Tower, named by Edward after his brother who was to become King George IV, was built to keep guard over Halifax harbor - a fact not immediately obvious today, because of the tall trees that have grown up around it. Visitors can look at the powder magazines and the gun emplacements on the roof.