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Offered languages
- English
- English
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada's oldest incorporated city, has a past that's equal parts gritty, violent, and fascinating. On this walking tour, you'll hear stories of serial poisoners, unsolved murders, public hangings, and a notorious American traitor who fled here seeking redemption. Starting at Tin Can Beach, you'll walk the former red light district of Sheffield Street, pass the spot where New Brunswick's first murder was committed with a table fork in 1784, and stop outside where wealthy brewer Richard Oland was beaten to death in 2011 in a case with no conviction. Just steps away stood the home of Benedict Arnold, burned in effigy by locals. The tour ends near York Point Slip, where the Great Fire of 1877 ignited, reducing over 1,600 buildings to ash overnight. Along the way, hear about the 1889 Candy Killer, the last public hanging at Gallows Hill in 1956, and a 1914 streetcar strike so violent that federal troops rode in to restore order.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at Partridge Island, 350-282 Sydney St, Saint John, NB E2L 0A8, Canada. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Tour ends at 1 Union St, Saint John, NB E2L 5A7, Canada
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
Take in sweeping views of Partridge Island, a quarantine station where over 600 Irish famine immigrants died of typhus in 1847. Learn how this small island later served as a military outpost through two World Wars.
Admission ticket free -
Tin Can Beach (Pass by)
Begin your tour at Tin Can Beach, with its wide views out toward Partridge Island. Discover Saint John's gritty past as you take in this quiet stretch of shoreline before heading into the old red-light district.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass through Queen Square South, part of the Trinity Royal Preservation Area rebuilt after the catastrophic Great Fire of 1877. Admire the Italianate brick residences here, a lasting symbol of the city's determination to rebuild stronger after disaster.
Admission ticket free -
King's Square (Pass by)
Visit King's Square, laid out with pathways in the shape of the British Union Jack flag. Take in this historic urban park, established in 1785 as one of the city's original four public squares.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Explore the Loyalist Burial Ground, where Salem witch trial descendant James Putnam III is entombed. Wander among centuries-old headstones that tell the story of Saint John's earliest settlers.
Admission ticket free -
Saint John City Market (Pass by)
Stroll through the 1876 Saint John City Market, whose roof is built to resemble the inverted keel of a ship. Discover how this National Historic Site narrowly escaped the Great Fire of 1877, just a year after it was completed.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Walk through Market Square, built at the head of Market Slip, the historic 1783 landing site for the United Empire Loyalists. Explore this modern waterfront complex, which blends the old brick warehouse facades of the original slip with shops, dining, and entertainment.
Admission ticket free -
Harbour Passage Trail (Pass by)
Follow the Harbour Passage Trail, a scenic waterfront walkway connecting Market Square to the Reversing Falls. Enjoy sweeping views of the harbour as you trace the water's edge through the heart of the city.
Admission ticket free -
Reversing Falls Rapids (Pass by)
Marvel at the Reversing Falls, where the Bay of Fundy's powerful tides collide with the Saint John River to reverse its flow twice daily. Watch the whirlpools and rapids form as one of the world's highest tidal ranges pushes water back upstream through a narrow rocky gorge.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
End your tour near the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal, a key gateway for visitors arriving in Saint John by sea. Take in this modern waterfront facility, just steps from the historic sites you've explored throughout the tour.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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