Historical Secrets At Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites

Debbie & Darcy
Posted by January 6, 2018 November 8, 2020

Last Updated on November 8, 2020

Being Vancouverites, we often find that we take Victoria for granted and usually are quick to dismiss it as a desirable destination. That is, until we realized how much fascinating history there was to discover during our trip to Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia. We love visiting sites that are just brimming with history and that allow us to “take a step back in time”. Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse turned out to be a great place full of history.

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site is a 19th-century coastal artillery fort on the Colwood, British Columbia side of Esquimalt Harbour. The site is adjacent to Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site, the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada.

It was fun to learn about Fort Rodd Hill’s evolving role in the defence of Victoria-Esquimalt from 1895 to 1956. We were able to learn about the Fort’s military secrets, underground tunnels and bunkers.   If you’re interested in old arterily, vehicles, and the interior of old bases of operations, this is a great stop for you. You can also take a walk out to the iconic Fisgard Lighthouse, a beacon for mariners for over 150 years. You’ll also find a breathtaking sight right before you as you witness the spectacular views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains.

We only wished there were more Rangers around to ask questions and tell more stories. There was still plenty of information to learn from all the signage, but we must not have been there at a peak time for all the extras. However, it was worth the stop for the knowledge and views alone. If you have the chance, go down to the Lighthouse. We were stopping on our way to the Ferry and didn’t have time to do the trek down. We made it just in time for the Ferry we had to catch!

We wished we had made time for camping overnight in one of the oTENTiks! It looked like a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy the site at night and see what life in the fort would have “really been like” back in the day.

Take a quick look at some of the great sights to see at these Historic Sites:

Fort Rodd Hill

Fort Rodd Hill
This building was constructed in 1897 to accommodate a master gunner and his family, but has been used for several personnel. For example, from 1899 to the Second World War, it was occupied by non-commissioned officers in charge of the Fort Rodd Hill detachment.
Fort Rodd Hill
The Depression Range Finder was essential in the operation of a coast defence battery. It was able to accurately and quickly measure the distance or range to a target and gave its bearing.
Fort Rodd Hill
Moving artillery pieces from their mountings and moving the mountings themselves was awkward and potentially dangerous. The device used to move a gun was a triangular gin; a three legged hoist.
Fort Rodd Hill
“Ack Ack” (Anti- Aircraft) Artillery – During the First World War, Victoria was unprepared to fend off air attacks. In 1921, the 2nd AA battery was formed in Victoria and since no AA guns existed in Canada, the unit was made with 13-pounder guns on a improvised mounting.
Fort Rodd Hill
The girls loved taking it for a ‘spin’
Fort Rodd Hill
A secret defence report of 1928 condemned the equipment, saying the 13-pounders were obsolete.

Fort Rodd Hill

Fort Rodd Hill
Excavated from solid rock, this underground magazine provided a secure and dry storage area for ammunition.

 Fisgard Lighthouse

Fisgard Lighthouse
Fisgard Lighthouse was built in 1860 to guide vessels through the entrance of Esquimalt harbour. It was named after HMS Fisgard, a British Navy ship that spent time in the Pacific.
Fisgard Lighthouse
Fisgard Lighthouse was the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada.

 

We visited Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites during the Canada 150 campaign and were able to explore free of charge. Canada is a great wonderland; there is so much to explore! 

 

 

 

What are some great historical sights you have enjoyed?

 

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