Home > Parliament Hill
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| The dramatic rear view of Parliament Hill, with the Library of Parliament perched atop the deep gorge of the Ottawa River
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Parliament Hill is a scenic location on the banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Canada. Its Gothic Revival suite of buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada. The best known building is the Centre Block, with its prominent Peace Tower, a national symbol. The richly decorated interior of the centre block contains allegorical scenes.
The current Parliament Buildings were built between 1865 and 1927. The West Block was built in 1865 and the East Block in two stages in 1867 and 1910. The Library of Parliament was opened in 1876 and the original Centre Block completed in 1878. Parliament met for the first time in the new building on 8 June 1866.
The Centre Block burned in 1916; the edifice was entirely destroyed except for the Library of Parliament, whose treasures were preserved by a quick-thinking librarian who was able to close its massive doors. The Centre Block was immediately rebuilt, being completed in 1920, with the Peace Tower, commemorating the end of the First World War, being completed in 1927Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 See also 1927 in aviation 1927 in film 1927 in literature 1927 in mu.
The Peace Tower is the most prominent part of the buildings. It replaced the 55-metre Victoria Tower, burned in the 1916 fire; the current tower is 92.2 metres tall. The base of the Peace Tower contains Books of Remembrance listing all of Canada's war dead; a page is ceremoniously turned in each book every day at 11 o'clock. The tower contains an observation gallery offering beautiful views of the city. Its clock is set by the National Research Council of CanadaThe National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is the country's leading organisation for scientific research and development. NRC was established in 1916, mainly to advise the government. Then, in the early 1930s, laboratories were built in Ottawa. NRC gre official time signalThe National Research Council Time Signal is Canada's longest running but shortest radio programme. Heard every day since November 5, 1939, at 1:00 PM ET across the CBC Radio One network and at 12:00 PM ET across the SRC Chaine Premiere radio network, it and is equipped with a 53-bell carillonA carillon is a musical instrument composed of a range of bells controlled by a keyboard. Carillons originated in the 15th century in Flanders, when bell-makers perfected their art to the point where bells could be cast with an exact tone. The greatest co which gives frequent concerts. Like the entire interior and exterior of the building, the tower is decorated with approximately 370 stone carvings, including gargoyleFolklore This article is about gargoyles, the statues. For the animated series, see Gargoyles (animated series). Basilica of the Sacre Coeur, Paris showing the water channel In architecture, gargoyles or gurgoyles (from the French gargouille originally ths, grotesqueWhen commonly used grotesque means strange, fantastic, ugly or bizarre and thus is often used to describe shapes and distorted forms such as Halloween masks or gargoyles on churches. More specifically, the grotesque forms on buildings which are not used as, and friezeTower of the Winds. In architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain or— in the Ionic or Corinthian order— be decorated with bas-reliefs. It lies upon the architrave ('main beam') and is capped by the moldingss.
The entire parliamentary precinct measures 112,360 square metres. It is bounded on the north by the Ottawa River; on the east by the Rideau Canal; on the south by Wellington Street; and on the west by Bank Street.
Parliament Hill has also hosted major events. Among them have been:
In 2012, the Centre Block is scheduled to be closed for five years for an extensive interior renovation. In preparation, the other buildings are being renovated and expanded first; the inner courtyards of the West and East Blocks will be enclosed, and temporary chambers for the Commons and Senate installed.
