Shoal Tower

Shoal Tower is a circular stone structure in Kingston Harbour with thick limestone walls designed to withstand artillery attacks. The tower sits on submerged stone foundations and rises isolated from the water.

British engineers built the fortification between 1846 and 1847 during a period of rising tension with the United States. The structure was part of a larger security strategy to protect Canadian harbors from potential invasion.

The tower represents a specific British defensive strategy applied to Canadian waterways in the 1800s. This architectural approach shaped how the harbor was protected and shows the military priorities of the colonial period.

The tower stands directly across from Kingston City Hall and offers views across the harbor. You can see it from the waterfront and explore the surrounding area to understand the complete military layout of the city.

The tower sits on an artificial stone platform that is completely hidden beneath the water surface. This hidden structure supports the massive architecture above and makes the building a unique example of Victorian engineering on water.

Location: Kingston

Inception: 1847

Part of: Kingston Fortifications, Rideau Canal

GPS coordinates: 44.22883,-76.47812

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:08