Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst, Archaeological site and national historic site near Rocky Point, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Port-la-Joye-Fort Amherst is an archaeological and national historic site along Charlottetown Harbour with the remains of a French settlement and British fort. Grass-covered earthworks and ridges show the outlines of colonial buildings and fortifications from that era.
French settlers founded Port-la-Joye in 1720 as their first permanent settlement on Prince Edward Island. British forces captured the site in 1758 and built Fort Amherst there.
The site marks where French leaders and the Mi'kmaq people met each year to strengthen bonds through ceremonies, speeches, and shared meals. These gatherings shaped how we understand the relationships between early European settlers and Indigenous peoples here.
The site is open to visitors with walking trails and interpretive panels placed along the routes. The paths are easy to follow and let you explore different parts of the location on your own.
Excavated house foundations reveal that Michel Haché and Anne Cormier were among the first Acadian families to settle on the island. These discoveries offer a rare glimpse into the daily lives of these earliest settler families.
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