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After a decade long construction process, the Colonial Building officially reopened to the public today, September 13th, 2022.

The Colonial Building was home to the Newfoundland and Labrador Legislative Assembly from 1850 until 1959 (Provincial Historic Sites). The building is a neoclassical structure housing some of the finest architecture in North America. With rooms with 30-foot ceilings, there isn’t a shortage of intricate designs to take in.

The chandeliers throughout are some of the last of its kind in the world and used to have gas lanterns. This building was the first to have electricity in Newfoundland.

Colonial buildingThe floor in the room above is red like the Senate and the floor in the room below is green like the House of Commons in London and Ottawa. The desks you’ll see are all originals and the Government of NL always sat to the left of the speaker.

The Colonial Building now houses many pieces by indigenous artists. This exhibit was designed to show us the diverse ways of seeing our history and how they have been overlooked throughout history.

Pieces will continue to be added throughout the Colonial Building to showcase the history of indigenous governments, women in government, and diversity in Newfoundland and Labrador governments.

Fun fact: you’ll see in this photo and around the building, squares of different colours. These are patches of older paint work to reveal the original wall colour!

On your guided tour, you’ll learn about the riot of 1932, the Squires staircase, the first bank robbery, and more. Enjoy the history of this wheelchair accessible building from 9:30am-5:00pm daily.

Due to capacity limits timed entry tickets are required for visitation at this time. Book your guided tour: Colonial Building Timed Ticket Entry Tickets. Please call 709 729-6259 to book groups of 10 or more.

Published: September 13, 2022