Most underrated or underappreciated landmark in each city

[megadude]

What landmarks for your city do you think are surprisingly little known or not given the respect they deserve? A landmark that locals might recognize as being in their city but couldn't tell you the name of it. Or one that if outsiders saw a pic of it, they wouldn't know what city it's in but could be impressive enough to have some recognition of that level.


For example, Toronto's Prince's Gate.


https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/504895808203788285/


image by ashtontekno

[MonctonRad]

In Moncton, the most easily mocked "attraction" is the Magnetic Hill phenomenon.

Putting your car in reverse and having it coast "uphill" may have been the height of family entertainment back in the 1950s, but it seems pretty corny right now. Still, there are cars lined up every summer at the hill to try it out.

On the other hand, there are some decent attractions that have been built up adjacent to the "phenomenon" over the years, including a zoo, water park, amusement park, golf course, casino and entertainment centre and multiple hotels, some restaurants, a spa and a winery, so the Magnetic Hill area remains Moncton's principle tourism area.

[megadude]

I read about that one when I was reading up on the magnetic hill in Burlington on King Rd. It was over a decade ago when I went to try the one in Burlington and there was someone else trying it. Didn't work for me.

Anyway, I've passed by about a dozen times since and haven't seen anyone else trying it.

Unlike the Moncton one, there are no attractions built around this magnetic hill. Just a dog park and a shooting club are there. And a salamander migration every April where they have to close the road for a few weeks.

[Hecate]

I’m from Winnipeg... the entire city doesn’t get the respect it deserves lol. But for Winnipeg I’d say the red river floodway. One of the largest earth moving projects in human history, a diversion 30 miles long, recognized by the society of macro-engineers as one of the modern wonders of the world. If this thing was built anywhere else in canada, it would have national status, viewing platforms, and a museum/interpretive centre. I’d also say the Manitoba hydro building doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Easily the most environmentally friendly office building in Canada/North America... probably the world when it was built. The first office building in Canada two be built using a double walled system and features automated shades to heat/cool the building. Something special about seeing the entire facade of a twenty-some story building completely change right in front of your eyes.

[megadude]

I'm a fisherman and fish can be found in pretty much any water from a puddle to a ditch. I find those narrow concrete water diversion channels running throughout cities to be pretty interesting. Many times I have walked along hoping by some miracle I'll see a big fish. I have seen minnows and always wonder if there's one that has grown big enough to be a proper fish. Actually, the place I spent the most time outside at while in Phoenix was the diversion channel behind out hotel by the airport.

So I'd be pretty fascinated by that project in Winnipeg if I were there to have a look. Sometimes I stand by the Welland canal at any one of the locks and just look for a couple minutes, even if there isn't a ship passing.

[J.OT13]

Not sure it's a landmark, but more of a park: Nepean Point in Ottawa.

The park is a little out of the way, tucked behind the National Gallery. The way to get there isn't immediately obvious. It has amazing views of Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River, Zibi, the Hull skyline, the museum of History (Civilization) and the Alexandra Bridge (set to be replaced within 10 years).

A redevelopment is underway, which will include a bridge over St-Patrick Street, at the entrance of the Alexandra Bridge, to link it to popular Major's Hill Park. It will replace a pedestrian bridge demolished in the 50s.

Current conditions.

• Video Link

More on the redevelopment project:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...&postcount=590

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by megadude

For example, Toronto's Prince's Gate.

The architecture of the CNE is massively underrated. Some of Toronto's grandest pre-war buildings just sit there unused most of the time.

The Liberty Grand (nee: The Ontario Government Building) is another one:



Source: City of Toronto Archives, Wikipedia

[Chadillaccc]

Canada Olympic Park


Winter - Ski/Snowboard hill, bobsled, luge, ski jump, tubing

Spring/Summer/Fall - Luge, mountain biking training, zip line (fastest in country), bungee jump, dry ski jump

All year - Canada Sports Hall of Fame, curling pads, hockey rinks, Olympic Visitors Centre



https://www.snow-online.com/ski-reso...ry_images.html

https://dailyhive.com/calgary/half-m...alization-2018

https://www.stockaerialphotos.com/me...c-park-calgary

[Drybrain]

Prince's Gate in Toronto is a great example--huge, grand, imposing, but sort of out of the way, and comes completely out of nowhere if you're not expecting it.


Having a slightly hard time for Halifax--the city has obvious landmarks like Citadel Hill, the town clock, the Historic Properties waterfront district. For smaller landmarks, maybe something like Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica (200 years old, damaged in the Halifax Explosion, apparently the tallest granite spire in North America, though I haven’t fact-checked that).



Better yet, George’s Island, part of the network of British defences around the city. It’s definitely an iconic vista in the harbour, but easily overlooked because it’s long been hard to access. Full of underground tunnels, prisons, and lots of stuff to thrill military-history buffs. Acadians were imprisoned here following their expulsion from the province in the 18th century, and the place was continuously used from 1750 to the second world war. The city and province have recently been working to upgrade the facilities and open it for guided tours, with an eye to freer access in the future, I think.



And though Moncton is not my city at all, it is the Maritimes’ second city, and immediately I thought of this strange Gothic castle-like structure, situated at the edge of downtown, which is a bit of a local oddity. It was built as an orphanage in the early 1900s, and in terms of its scale, architectural style, and grandeur, it really sticks out for Moncton, which has a small historic centre, but definitely isn't known for its neo-Gothic landmarks.

[J.OT13]

Some great stuff on here so far. Prince's Gate looks straight out of Europe.

The Canada Olympic Park looks like an amazing facility. Good to see an Olympic facility that continues to be enjoyed in this way. I find that Canada generally has a good record of continued usage and/or re-purposing of Olympic facilities.

Magnificent church in Halifax. And happy to see George's Island becoming more accessible.

The former orphanage is quite imposing. Back in those days, every building seemed to be built with great care and craftsmanship, regardless of the use.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by megadude

For example, Toronto's Prince's Gate.


https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/504895808203788285/


image by ashtontekno

I like this - a mini Brandenburg Gate feel.

I admit it, this is not what leaps to mind for Toronto. Aside from a couple of them in New York City, this is a very old-world thing.

Cool.

[SignalHillHiker]

Even locals tend to overlook the plaques/memorials/history related to all of the firsts in transatlantic flight that began in St. John’s. Harbour Grace does a decent job at commemorating it’s history with Amelia Earhart, but St. John’s does little for Alcock and Brown. That’s a big contrast to Ireland, where they landed, and where the anniversary is a much bigger deal.

[esquire]

Great idea for a thread, megadude, and great pick for Toronto. Prince's Gate would be a pretty important civic symbol in most Canadian cities, but it languishes in obscurity in Toronto.

For Winnipeg, the old CPR station comes to mind. It was a key point in the settlement of the Canadian west, and from its opening in 1906 to the end of World War II it was one of the most important railway stations in Canada. The station languished after CP ceased passenger rail service in 1978, and in recent years it became the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg. But it's a little out of the way in the kind of area where not very many people would be inclined to stop and take a look.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The former orphanage is quite imposing. Back in those days, every building seemed to be built with great care and craftsmanship, regardless of the use.

The former orphanage in Moncton is known as Castle Manor, a name it picked up in another of it's former incarnations as an old folks home. It was renovated several years ago into high end condos, so it's future is secured. The city took over the expansive lawn in front and is converting it into a civic park.

There are several other gothic pillars within the downtown, all of which were recently in peril, but have now been saved.

- Moncton High School has a gothic façade, but was in disrepair so the province replaced it with a new high school on the edge of town. The former school likely would have met the wreckers ball save for a vigorous campaign led by former alumni. The province sold it to a local public spirited developer instead, and necessary repairs have been made. The auditorium is actually the largest public performance space in the Maritimes, and will eventually be the new home of the Atlantic Ballet Theatre. The remainder of the building is waiting to be repurposed.
- Assumption Cathedral required millions in repairs, but was saved by a massive fundraising campaign amongst the local Acadian community. Repairs are underway. The basement is being given over to Acadian cultural agencies, and there is a new museum space which has also been created. The sanctuary remains for worshippers.
- St. Bernard's rectory (next to the anglophone Catholic Church downtown) was also empty and in disrepair. Last year it was acquired by new private owners, and is being fixed up for a small hotel.

All four of these buildings have interesting Gothic style architecture and are unique in the city. It's great to see them all spared and being repurposed.

[J.OT13]

Thanks for the rundown on Moncton. Those are some fantastic heritage success stories.

Originally Posted by esquire

For Winnipeg, the old CPR station comes to mind. It was a key point in the settlement of the Canadian west, and from its opening in 1906 to the end of World War II it was one of the most important railway stations in Canada. The station languished after CP ceased passenger rail service in 1978, and in recent years it became the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg. But it's a little out of the way in the kind of area where not very many people would be inclined to stop and take a look.

I had no idea Winnipeg once had a second grand railway station, only two kilometers from Union. I can see the similarity with Vancouver's Waterfront Station, another CPR masterpiece.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I had no idea Winnipeg once had a second grand railway station, only two kilometers from Union. I can see the similarity with Vancouver's Waterfront Station, another CPR masterpiece.

It was even more impressive looking when it still had the original CPR hotel next to it, but that closed in the late 60s and was demolished shortly thereafter.

It was around that time that CP more or less gave up on passenger rail, and the hotel's location at the heart of the city's skid row after the business core of downtown had drifted southwest basically sealed its fate. 50+ years later and the site is still vacant, but at least the station still stands.

[Bishop2047]

The LT Governor's house in Fredericton, is out of the Downtown Core. Not much in the way of signage for foot traffic. Really if you were visiting, and were not staying at the Delta next door might not notice it.

[davee930]

SAIT's Heritage Hall - One of my favourite buildings in Calgary. Doesn't get much recognition

[megadude]

I think Fantasy Fair at Woodbine Mall could easily be an attraction for the whole area but it seems pretty much like the majority of visitors are those that live in Northern Etobicoke and neighbouring Malton.

Winter is long. Canada's Wonderland ain't open during that time. You would think this an indoor amusement park would be very popular. Problem is that it's in Rexdale, a somewhat ghetto neighbourhood.

I would bet that more suburban and metro Toronto people go to Centreville on the TO islands during the summer than Fantasy Fair despite having to trek downtown and then deal with the fairy, though the fairy itself is quite exciting for a kid.


https://www.groupon.com/deals/fantasy-fair-1

[Echoes]

The Bessborough Hotel (often pictured with the South SK River and the concrete arches of the Broadway Bridge) would be the undisputed landmark/icon image of Saskatoon.

While still widely appreciated, I don't think the U of S gets the profile it deserves as one of the finest parts of the city. Given the insular nature of the campus, I think it gets missed by a lot of visitors and its gorgeous collegiate gothic buildings (and all the trees!) aren't a part of the cityscape that most Saskatonians interact with on a regular basis.

Thorvaldson Building


IMG_3024 by Echoes Saskatoon, on Flickr

Peter MacKinnon Building


IMG_8782 by Echoes Saskatoon, on Flickr

Green tree canopy: https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.13175...7i13312!8i6656