The largest city of the region offers the richest range of amenities, from high culture to popular entertainment, from its symphony orchestra to its street fairs. Kingston is a university town and a tourist destination, vibrant in the winter with throngs of young people, vibrant in the summer with throngs of visitors. The city has historic character and a scenic situation.

Fort Henry, Royal Military College, Downtown Kingston, Wolfe Island

Ian Coristine /1000 Islands Photo Art

Kingston is richly historic, retaining monumental stone buildings of exceptional style and character. The City Hall, designed by George Brown, was completed in 1844 when Kingston was capital of Canada.

Gordon L. Wolford photograph

Kingston is not merely a historic river town, but a Great Lakes City. Its nautical heritage is celebrated by the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. Less a commercial shipping port now, the city is a favored yachting destination. At the juncture of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, it is also at the juncture of the river and the Rideau Canal. This historic waterway, currently nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, affords a scenic cruise, passing through hand operated locks. The canal connects some of the many Rideau Lakes and links Kingston to Ottawa.

Paul Malo photograph.

Kingston is urbane. Sidewalk cafés, outdoor produce and flea markets, specialty boutiques give the city a European flavor, enhanced by a remarkable collection of historic buildings.

St. George's Cathedral, 1823-1891.

Thomas Rogers,William Coverdale, Powers & Son, architects. Courtesy Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO).

Kingston has been called "the Limestone City" because of extensive stone contstruction of buildings, many monumental in ambition and refined in design.

Frontenac County Courthouse, 1858, Edward Horsey, architect. Photograph courtesy Think Kingston

Queens University is becoming known as "Canada's Harvard" because it attracts top international students. Established by Royal Charter of Queen Victoria in 1841, it was the earliest degree-granting institution in the united Province of Canada and has educated many of the country's most notable political and cultural figures.

Queens University, Courtesy Queen's University/Bob Weisnagel

The large Queens community enlivens Kingston during the winter. The university has more than 16,000 full-time students from over 70 countries, with a thousand faculty members and 2,200 staff.

Photograph courtesy Think Kingston

The Queens campus is large, fronting on the Lake Ontario shore with its infinite horizon and westerly winds.

Lake Ontario shore. Jonathon Bowman photograph.

Kingston is a city of art as well as history. The Agnes Ethrington Art Center on the Queens University Campus contains a collection of some fourteen thousand objects, many shown in its eight exhibition spaces. Outdoor sculpture enriches the urban scene.

"Time" by Kosso Eloul (1920 - 1995), a 1973, gift of the Province of Ontario to Kingston at its tercentennial.

Jonathon Bowman photograph.

"Tetra," Olympic Harbour sculpture by Ted Bieler,(1938 -), placed for the Olympic Sailing Events of1976.

Hank Winsor photograph.

"1930-1985 Landscape," City Hall sculpture by Walter Redinger, (1940- ).

The Memorial Arch of the Royal Military College is a splendid architectural monument raised in memory of military cadets killed in World War I and other conflicts. Rather poignantly the inscription concludes, "...who gave their lives for the empire." Today young people first enter the college by marching through the gates then never pass again until marching out on graduation. Others who know the tradition respect it, so always walk through the small openings at either side rather than though the arch.

War Memorial Arch, 1922, John M. Lyle, architect (1872 - 1945). Hank Winsor photograph.

Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson and His Excellency John Raltson Saul.

Robert Taylor phogotraph.

Point Frederick, site of the Royal Military College, has had a miltary presence since the late eighteenth century. During the War of 1812 the main naval station of Upper Canada was situated here (the counterpoint to the United States installation at Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario, not far off). Ships built here were critical to detering invasion of Canada by the United States.

Pt. Frederick, with Royal Military College, Ft. Frederick (right), Ft. Henry and Cedar Island beyond. Janice P. Van Dijk photograph.

Frot Henry. Ken Kirk photograph.

Kingston's historic charm attracts many yachting parties. When the sun is over the yardarm, visitors stroll from the harbor adjoining Confederate to nearby sidewalk cafés restaurants and shops.

Confederation Park Yacht basin with Martello Tower. Paul Malo photograph

Elaborate fortifications blend historic with marine character. The mouth of the Cataraqui River, the entrance to the Rideau Canal, forms a large, natural harbor.

Moored in Navy Bay under the canons of Ft. Henry. Robert Charron photograph

Marielle Lanthier photograph.

Island cruises from the downtown shore offer dining and entertainment as well as scenery.

Island Queen , courtesy Kingston Thousand Islands Cruises.

Kingston is home port for the Canadian Empress, built here for more extended St. Lawrence River cruises.

Canadian Empress, courtesy St. Lawrence Cruise Lines.

The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes recalls Kingston's history as a port and shipbuilding center. Focusing on larger commercial ships, it suppliments Clayton's Antique Boat Museum which focuses on smaller recreational boats.

Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. Paul Malo photograph.

Steamer Algerian at Smith's Wharf, Kingston, c. 1890, courtesy Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Visitors derive an intimate sense of Kingston's maritime heritage when staying at a unique bed-and-breakfast accommodation, the Alexander Henry.

Ice Breaker Alexander Henry, courtesy Marine Museum of the Great Lakes

Several historic buildings likewise are models of preservation by adaptive use, now providing fine lodging for visitors.

Photograph courtesy the Hochelaga Inn.

Guided tours provide insight into local lore about historic buildings.

"Haunted Walk" group at Rosemount, courtesy Haunted Walks, Inc.

A city of culture and affluence, Kingston offers the widest range of fine dining in the region.

Courtesy River Mill Restaurant, Kingston

Kingston's vibrant joie do vivre is nowhere more evident than in its many pubs.

Kingston Brewing Company ("The Brew Pub"). Photograph Alan McLeod.

Kingston is a place for all seasons and all ages. The city has active sailing programs for youngsters and young adults.

St. Lawrence II, courtesy Brigantine Incorporated.

Kingston has hosted the sailing Olympics, and in 2007 will be the site of the International Sailing Federation's Youth Sailing World Championship. Sailors don't leave the water, even when frozen.

Photograph courtesy Robert J. Hunt

Photograph courtesy Kingston Yacht Club

Confederation Park arch and Martello Towers, Alan McLeod photograph.

Kingston is a city where the nautical is juxtposed with the urbane--a city of water and sidwalks. The old town, at the water's edge, is a pedestrian's delight.

Sidewalk show, courtesy of the artist, Joanne Gervais

A downtown Renaissance has restored buildings, many occupied by inviting shops.

Linda Russ photograph.

Adaptation of interior alleys, many lined with old stone buildings, contibutes to Kingston charm.

Linda Russ photograph.

Other sections sample distinctive regional shopping, dining, and lodging in Kingston and elsewhere. Another fine website is devoted to Kingston alone.

Dr. Mark Sirett directing one of the five Cantabile choirs, photo courtesy Cantable Choirs of Kingston

Kingston is renowed for its choral music. Several choirs perform regularly. A service at St. George's Cathedral is a memorable experience, although the choir may be on vacation during the summer. Also memorable is the famous annual outdoor performance by the Kingston Symphony of the 1812 Overture at Ft. Henry.

Courtesy Kinsgston Buskers Rendezvous

Always a lively city, Kingston is its most vibrant when the streets come alive with festivals such as the annual Buskers' Rendevous.

The hip art scene: Gas The Modern Fuel. By artists, for artists, the mission of this gallery and art centre is to "explore wide-ranging aesthetics and probe a broad scope of formal and socio-cultural questions."

Market Square development, 2005, courtesy City of Kingston.

A model of a small city's development, Kingston is acutely aware of its resouces and is vigilant about retaining its identity, as a destination and an enviable place to live. City government has been assisted by institutional and private input in planning and development, such as the Kingston Development Corporation (KEDCO) and Kincore Holdings, Ltd. Among projects that enhance the quality of historic Kingston is Kincore's recent restoration of a prominent landmark, the British Whig Building. A fine presentation of the history of the building and its changes is on line.

Restored British Whig Building, Alexander Wilson, architect, courtesy Kincore.

The vitality of the St. Lawrence north shore, especially compared to the south shore, may be explained in large part by demographics and transportation. Whereas rail connection to cities farther south once made the southern side accessible to visitors from populous urban centers, that shore now is relatively inaccessible from metropolitan cities. In contrast, the "main line" of Canada--once the Grand Trunk Railroad and now the 401 arterial highway that links Toronto and Montreal--runs along the north shore. Kingston and Brockville both have airports accomodating private jets. Some affluent islanders residing across the international boundary use these facilities regularly.

"Time," by Kosso Eloul (1920 - 1995). Isaac Grant photograph.

Gateway, between two nations, where the Great Lakes enter the St. Lawrence River.

Some historic views of Kingston:

Kingston, Cedar Island, 1856, from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, New York City, courtesy Maritime Images of the Great Lakes.

Kingston, 1856, from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, New York City, courtesy Maritime Images of the Great Lakes.

Kingston, 1856, from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, New York City, courtesy Maritime Images of the Great Lakes.

Martello Tower (Shoal Towe)r c. 1890, site of Confederation Park Yacht basin, shown above.

Coutresty Maritime History of the Great Lakes.