Fort William Augustus, Military fort and national historic site in Canso, Canada.
Fort William Augustus is a stone fortification located on Grassy Island near Canso with visible ruins and defensive structures still standing. The remains show how it was positioned to guard the harbor and defend against maritime threats.
British forces built this fort in 1725 to secure the strategic harbor and protect their trading interests in the region. French military operations destroyed it in 1744 during the broader colonial conflicts between European powers over control of North America.
The site reflects early British colonial settlement patterns in Nova Scotia through its physical layout and construction methods. Visitors can observe how this location functioned as a meeting point and trading center between European settlers and Indigenous peoples.
Access to the fort requires a boat from the mainland since it sits on an island. The Parks Canada visitor center in Canso provides information and exhibits to help you understand the site's history and archaeological findings.
Excavations in the early 1990s uncovered the original fort layout and revealed evidence of extensive trade networks operating across the site. These archaeological discoveries provided insights into daily life that written records alone could not reveal.
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