Exploring the 1884 Dominion Square Ice Palace

Ice Palace 
Dominion Square
From The Montreal Herald Carnival Number, February 4th, 1884

Same month 142 years ago.. Montreal held a Winter Carnival in Dominion Square - now known as Canada Place or Place du Canada. 🇨🇦 

At this carnival there was an ice palace constructed of at least 10,000-15,000 blocks of ice, measuring 160 feet in long, up to 120 feet wide and up to 100 feet tall. How massive! 🧊 

It was lit up in the evening using electric carbon arc lamps. How progressive! 💡 

The palace was used for a mock battle with fireworks at the end of the carnival. How dramatic! 🧨 

Designed by Alexander Cowper Hutchinson and construction overseen by J. H. Hutchinson, it truly was magical. What a sight to behold in the dead of Montreal winter! ✨ 

This image was pulled from the Montreal Herald’s February 4th 1884 publication. It is available on our website! 🗞️

Being from Montreal, this is a place I would frequent regularly. It’s wonderful to see past historical moments, especially fun events like this, in a place you walk around so casually!