Description of Historic Place

The Lighttower at the Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada is a tall, simple, tapered circular limestone tower clad with white marble facing and capped with a large facetted lantern. The Lighttower is located at the head of the Gaspé Peninsula, in close proximity to the village of Cap-des-Rosiers and Forillon National Park. The lighthouse was designated a National Historic Site in 1977 and is considered the showpiece of the Québec agency of the Canadian Coast Guard. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Lighttower is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical value:
The Lighttower is one of the best examples of the national historic theme of aids to navigation. Located at the head of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse is a major coastal light, serving all marine traffic entering the estuary of the St. Lawrence River from the Gulf. As one of the Imperial towers, the Lighttower is linked with the pressure exerted by steamship operators on the colonial government to improve maritime safety and the system of navigational aids along the St. Lawrence. The presence of the Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse also contributed to the growth of the St. Lawrence River ports such as Québec City and Montréal.

Architectural value:
Lighttower is an excellent example of an early -Imperial- stone lighttower. A gracefully tapered circular limestone tower, the Lighthouse is symmetrical and simply detailed, and features a large facetted and well proportioned lantern which clearly expresses the utilitarian function of the building. The tallest lighttower in Canada, the building’s solid construction also demonstrates the use of exceptionally high quality craftsmanship and durable materials such as limestone quarried from the Gaspé Basin and a smooth, white marble facing.

Environmental value:
Located at the head of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Lighttower reinforces the dramatic character of its maritime setting. A focal point in the landscape owing to its scale and silhouette, the Lighthouse is a prominent visual landmark and a symbol of the region, as well as the showpiece of the Québec agency of the Canadian Coast Guard.

Sources:
Gordon Fulton, Lighttower, Cap-des-Rosiers, QC. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 93-062; Lighttower, Cap-des-Rosiers, QC, Heritage Character Statement 93-062.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Lighttower should be respected.

Its distinctive design as an Imperial stone lighttower, functional layout, and high quality materials and craftsmanship as manifested in: the elegant form and proportions of the lighttower which consists of a 112 foot tall, tapered round shaft that supports a multi-facetted lantern; the solid, unadorned exterior walls and the circular footprint which reflect the utilitarian purpose of the structure; the functionally derived arrangement of the four small, multi-paned sash windows which are stacked at regular intervals, one above the other; the simple interior layout including the spiral stair with its plain pipe-rail guard which runs the height of the tower; the construction of the thick, durable exterior limestone walls, and the use of white marble facing on the exterior of the tower; the minimal exterior detailing such as the small, metal struts supporting the lantern gallery; the original optical apparatus which is still in place.

The manner in which the Lighttower reinforces the dramatic character of its maritime setting and its landmark status, as evidenced in: its relationship with the cluster of service buildings and the open, austere character of the surrounding site at its base; its visual prominence owing to its location at the edge of a cliff, its simple, elegant design, massive scale and colour, which all contribute to its soaring, white silhouette.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Lighttower at Cap-des-Rosiers was constructed in 1854-58. It was designed by John Page, Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Works. The original stone tower with brick and stucco exterior was reclad with white brick in 1954, and with white marble stonework in 1984. The semi-attached dwelling was demolished in 1957 and windows and doors were replaced in the mid-1980s. The tower has a fully automated operation. Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard are the custodians. See FHBRO Building Report 93-62.

Reasons for Designation
The Lighttower was designated Classified because of its historical associations, its architectural importance, and its environmental significance.

The construction of the light at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is associated with the development of the ports of Quebec City and Montréal. It is also linked to pressure exerted by steamship operators urging the government to improve maritime safety to reduce shipping losses along this major commercial waterway.

The Cap-des-Rosiers Lighttower is the tallest in Canada, and an early example of a tapered circular stone tower. A powerful silhouette with a simple form, it is symmetrical and simply detailed, characteristic of the so-called "Imperial" stone lighttower. The well-scaled, large facetted lantern is well proportioned to the tower and clearly expresses the utilitarian purpose of the design.

The simple maritime character of the original landscape and the relationships of the lighttower to the ancillary buildings are largely intact. The scale and silhouette of the lighttower makes it a focal point in the surroundings, contributing to the maritime environment as a functional element. The lighttower is a landmark - one of the best known towers in the region - and is widely promoted in tourist literature.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the lighthouse resides in its massing and overall proportions, construction materials, architectural details, interior layout, and site relationships.

The massing consists of a tall, tapered round shaft supporting a multi-facetted lantern. The simple external massing and circular footprint reflect the utilitarian purpose of the structure and the clarity of this expression should be maintained. The profile with the projecting platform and metal struts are also integral to the character of the structure, as are the proportions and scale of the lantern.

The powerful presence of the building derives from its simple form with architectural embellishments kept to a minimum. Window openings are small and simply detailed. The current white marble facing with its simple detailing has value as part of the evolving character of the tower, and merits conservation expertise and on-going maintenance. The lantern gallery is supported by metal struts in lieu of stone corbeling. The utilitarian character of the metal struts contributes to the visual richness of the design and is compatible with the simple design of the tower and should be maintained.

The multi-paned sash windows and doors are replacement units which are compatible with original designs and contribute to the detail and visual interest of the tower. The arrangement of windows and doors is simple and functionally-driven, with four windows stacked one above the other. No new openings should be introduced.

The spiral stair with its simple pipe-rail guard at the interior should be retained. Where practicable any surviving early interior finishes should be preserved and incorporated in future work.

The austere landscape of the lighttower, with neither trees nor shrubs, is characteristic of stations located in harsh coastal environments, and should be maintained. The layout of roads and pathways underscores the utilitarian nature of the site design, and should be respected.