The City's strategic location – where the St. Lawrence and Cataraqui Rivers meet Lake Ontario – have made it an important location for Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The area began to be settled by Europeans in the 17th century and became the First Capital of a United Canada in 1841. Since that time, the community has grown and changed as a result of multiple waves of immigration and is variously referred to as the “Limestone City” and a place where “history and innovation thrive”.  More recently, the City has engaged in a public consultation process to look at how to foster a more inclusive approach to Kingston history. 

Explore these pages for more information: 

• Indigenous history, including information about the history of settlement in this area and the on-going presence of Indigenous people today 
• UNESCO World Heritage site, including Fort Henry, Martello towers and other fortifications located at the foot of the Rideau Canal 
• Kingston City Hall National Historic Site, designed by architect George Browne and recognized as one of Canada’s 19th century buildings 
• Sir John A. Macdonald, a Kingston resident and Canada's first prime minister whose legacy has become increasingly controversial in recent years 
• Heritage Preservation, Kingston is well known for the preservation of historic buildings that help reveal aspects of Canada’s evolution as a nation 
• Civic Collection, information about objects, documents and works of art held in the public trust on behalf of Kingston residents