This is an archived event from Culture Days 2021.
Images
Self Guided Historic Walking Tour of Parry Sound - The Steamship Era
Digital
Architecture History & heritage Self-guided Storytelling TourDate and time
This activity runs the duration of Culture Days.
Location
Parry Sound, ON
Access
Free.
Offered in English.
About
On this walking tour, we will explore the rich history of steamships and tourism in Parry Sound, and the impact they had on the community.
The 30,000 Islands are a unique natural wonder, and have been designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The dense forests, long coastlines and innumerable lakes are home to over 1,000 distinct types of habitat. That breathtaking beauty has made it a favourite destination for tourists and those seeking rest and relaxation.
Tourism as an industry has a long history in Georgian Bay, and as the regional centre Parry Sound has been a tourist hub since its founding. Opening up the surrounding wilderness to tourism took a long time--roads and railways fit for those seeking to travel in comfort were slow to be built--so until the 1940s the primary means of getting to Parry Sound were the Great Lakes steamers.
The route, however, was anything but safe. Storms, with their high winds and tempestuous waves, could come at any moment and claimed many ships and lives. Nevertheless, for many the risk of being lost at sea was a risk worth taking to witness a Georgian Bay sunrise.
Links
- Learn more about On This Spot onthisspot.ca
- Download in the Apple App Store (iOS) apps.apple.com
- Download in the Google Play Store (Android) play.google.com
Organizer
On This Spot
On This Spot guides people on a tour back in time, showing & telling the history that surrounds them. On each spot, users will find themselves standing in the footsteps of a photographer who took a historic photo. On site tourists/users can use the built-in camera feature to create their own then-and-photos, which can be shared on social media and saved as a digital souvenir. Selections of these photos are chained together into walking tours that take a deep dive into local history.
On This Spot strives to make history engaging, educational, and accessible to all with a focus on easy to use features and a succinct writing style. The aim is to create an intuitive user experience that provides historical unparalleled depth without overwhelming or confusing users.