St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Cannon Barrel
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014
1. Cannon Barrel Marker
In 1960, the Lincoln Historical Society (now the St. Catharines Historical Society) recovered this cannon barrel from the banks of Twelve Mile Creek, formerly the route of the First and Second Welland Canals. It had been buried in the area under the Burgoyne Bridge below Yates Street.
The barrel displays no crests or markings to indicate its country or place of origin, nor its maker or date of manufacture. The bent barrel and broken pintles (the 'pins' on either side of the barrel upon which it pivots) suggest the cannon was intentionally discarded. Perhaps it was brought to St. Catharines in the 19th century as ballast in a ship passing through the Canal or maybe it was on a ship being repaired at a local shipyard.
Erected by St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Welland Canals series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.
Location. 43° 9.374′ N, 79° 11.658′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It can be reached from Welland Canals Parkway, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the grounds of the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bollard (a few steps from this marker); The Fourth Welland Canal (a few steps from this marker); William Hamilton Merritt 1793 - 1862 (within shouting distance of this marker); Global Irish Famine Way (within shouting distance of this marker); How it Works: Operations and Safety (within shouting distance of this marker); Welland Ship Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); The St. Lawrence Seaway (within shouting distance of this marker); How It Works: Locking Through (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.
Also see . . . St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canal Centre. (Submitted on August 9, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014
2. Cannon Barrel and Marker
The Fourth Welland Canal marker is directly above the cannon on the stone with the bushes.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014
3. Cannon Barrel and Marker
Cannon is pointing at the Bollard marker.
Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014
4. Cannon Barrel and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 633 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 9, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
