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Historic building · Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo Bastion
Three-storey octagonal wooden tower, built from 1853 by the Hudson’s Bay Company to protect the coal mining post. It is Nanaimo’s oldest building, located on the downtown waterfront.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Nanaimo Bastion
The Bastion is an octagonal wooden tower with three storeys and the top floor projecting outward, erected by the Hudson’s Bay Company beginning in 1853. The company had begun coal extraction in Nanaimo the year before, after the Snuneymuxw brought mineral samples to Victoria, and the tower served as defence and storage for the small mining settlement.
The walls are made of squared logs, hewn with axes, in a construction method records attribute to French-Canadian craftsmen employed by the company. It is the only freestanding tower of this type built by the Hudson’s Bay Company that still exists, and the city’s oldest building.
The Bastion was almost demolished at the end of the 19th century and was eventually bought by the city, which moved it; it was moved again later when streets were widened. Today it stands on Front Street, at the water’s edge.
The Nanaimo Museum cares for the building. In summer the interior opens for visits, with trade goods, weapons and the history of the company era; at other times only the exterior can be seen. Check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes inside; a few minutes to see the exterior.
Best time
In summer, when the interior usually opens. The exterior can be viewed year-round during the waterfront walk.
How to get there
On Front Street in downtown Nanaimo, by the waterfront, a few minutes’ walk from the Nanaimo Museum.
Tip
Combine the visit with the Nanaimo Museum, which manages the Bastion and tells the story of coal in the city.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Nanaimo Bastion
When was the Bastion built?
Construction began in 1853 by the Hudson’s Bay Company to protect the coal mining post. Sources give completion between 1854 and 1855.
Can you go inside the Bastion?
The interior is usually open in summer, managed by the Nanaimo Museum. Outside that period you can only view the exterior. Confirm before you go.
Why is the Bastion important?
It is the oldest structure in Nanaimo and the only freestanding tower of this type built by the Hudson’s Bay Company that still exists.