Historical monuments worth seeing in Ottawa
- Ottawa Travel Guide
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- Tuesday, 05 March 2013 07:53
When travelling to Ottawa, tourists might want to plan out exactly what they want to see while visiting the city, as there are countless heritage sites and must-see attractions that bring people to Canada's capital each year. History buffs and art enthusiasts will likely want to add visits to some of Ottawa's memorials and monuments to their to-do lists. Here are a few of the many monuments in Canada's capital.
National War Memorial
Those who travel to the heart of downtown Ottawa will likely find themselves in Confederation Square, where they are able to check out the National War Memorial. This monument is a tribute to all of the Canadian veterans who have served during times of war. It was first built between 1926 to 1932, and it is a massive granite arch that is complete with bronze figures that represent freedom and peace. There are also 22 figures underneath the arch, which originally represented those lost during the First World War. In May 1982, it was changed to include those lost in World War II and the Korean War as well.
The Peacekeeping Monument
This monument can be found near in the ByWard Market neighbourhood, and it is dedicated to the over 110,000 Canadians who have served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces since 1948.
Human Rights Monument
This monument is a tribute to those who have struggled and fought for their human rights over the years. It was first unveiled in 1990 by the Dalai Lama, and its plaques have the first words of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The monument is complete with a series of plaques, where the words "equality," "dignity" and "rights" are inscribed in 73 different languages to show the diversity of linguistics and people in the history of Canada. The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights took place on September 24, 1998. In order to celebrate the momentous occasion, the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, showcased a new plaque. The new addition was dedicated to John Peters Humphrey, the Canadian jurist who was the author of the first draft of the declaration.
