St. Andrew's Cathedral in Victoria, British Columbia

Completed in 1892, St. Andrew's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the diocese of Victoria located in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. Borrowing from medieval European churches, St. Andrew's features double asymmetrical towers which are characteristic of the High Victorian Gothic Style. In 1990, noting its impressive architecture, St. Andrew's Cathedral was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

Presidential Vehicles at The Henry Ford Museum

As a big fan of classic cars, I was particularly fascinated by the Presidential Vehicles exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. From Theodore Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, the 5 vehicles on display showcase the craftsmanship and customization that went into building the official vehicles for the President of the United States.

While all of the vehicles are unique historical artifacts, arguably the most recognizable Presidential limo is John F. Kennedy's 1961 Lincoln Continental in which he was assassinated on November 23, 1963. The original vehicle had no armor and several removable roofs, but following the tragedy the existing car (known as X-100) was rebuilt with titanium plating, bullet proof glass, and a permanent roof. This iconic limousine is a must-see at the Henry Ford. Learn more about these historic Presidential Vehicles here.   

Explore more images from The Henry Ford Museum here. 

1939 Lincoln "Sunshine Special" Presidential Limousine used by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1961 Lincoln Continental (X-100) Presidential Limousine used by John F. Kennedy.

1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine used by Dwight D. Eisenhower.

1902 Brougham (carriage) used by Theodore Roosevelt.

1972 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine used by Ronald Reagan.

Fort Calgary National Historic Site: Part 1

In 1875 the North West Mounted Police built a fort at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers that laid the foundations for the modern city of Calgary, Alberta. Established as Fort Brisebois, it was renamed Fort Calgary by James Macleod (a name associated with another popular fort) in 1876 after Calgary House in Scotland.   

Fort Calgary held its location from 1875 to 1914 when the land was then sold to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The site was cleared and became a rail yard and storage facility. Recognizing the historical value of the site, the City of Calgary reclaimed the land in 1974 and designated it a provincial and National Historic Site of Canada. 

Reopened in 1978, today Fort Calgary is a museum and event space featuring a replica of the 1888 barracks that were constructed in 2000. I explored and photographed this unique historic site for my Around Alberta series while taking advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the North West Mounted Police (later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and to tour a wide range of exhibits about the history of Calgary, Alberta.

Fort Calgary ca. 1878

New barracks at Fort Calgary ca. 1888