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Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site

Education

Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada

The Grande Maison

This photograph shows moulders flowing liquid cast iron into moulds that represent the Forges du Saint-Maurice acronym: FSTM.

Moulders at work, Grande Maison.
© Parks Canada / Jean Audet

Your first stop upon arriving at the Forges is the Grande Maison (the "ironmaster's house"). Guide-interpreters will be on hand to welcome you and give you updates on the activities offered that day, including a guided tour of the house and grounds, which alone is worth the trip.

The Grande Maison, which once was a private residence, an administrative centre, a store and a warehouse, today houses a series of exhibits which recount the exceptional history of the Forges du Saint-Maurice, the first industrial community in Canada.

Every visit to the National Historic Site begins there.

Exhibits at the Grande Maison

This photograph shows three wood stoves, along with a few cauldrons and stock pots made at the Forges du Saint-Maurice. They are displayed in the cellars of the Grande Maison.

Exhibit of cast iron objects in the cellars of the Grande Maison.
© Parks Canada / Jean Audet

On the ground floor, you will meet the three most important figures in the history of the Forges. Following this, you will go down into the original cellars of this impressive building.

The cellars feature exhibits of the products which made the Forges famous for more than 150 years. The outfit was initially founded in order to fulfill the needs of the king of France (the Forges and the war). During a second phase, the company contributed significantly to the development of the country (the Forges and the colony). Finally, the Forges played a role in efforts at modernizing iron and steel production in Canada (the Forges and industry).

The Sound-and-Light Show

This photograph shows a guide-interpreter providing explanations to a family of four. They are in front of a scale model that represents the village of the Forges du Saint-Maurice in 1845.

Once you have finished exploring the cellars, you will return to the upper floor to watch a captivating sound-and-light show lasting 27 minutes.

A star of the show is a huge, hyper-realistic scale model of the village surrounding the Forges in 1845, when the company was at the zenith of its output and fame. At that time, the settlement numbered more than a hundred buildings, and was the home or workplace of more than 400 people.

You will be told the heart-warming story of Louis and Marguerite. You will also learn about the particular methods of operation adopted at the Forges, where cast iron and bar iron were produced in the workshops lining St. Maurice Creek, which feeds into the St. Maurice River below.

There's all the makings of an unforgettable experience!