Historical Building sights in Toronto
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Casa Loma
The mock medieval Casa Loma lords over The Annex on a cliff that was once the shoreline of the glacial Lake Iroquois, from which Lake Ontario derived. Climb the 27m Baldwin Steps up the slope from Spadina Ave, north of Davenport Rd. The 98-room mansion – a crass architectural orgasm of castellations, chimneys, flagpoles, turrets and Rapunzel balconies – was built between 1911 and 1914 for Sir Henry Pellat, a wealthy financier who made bags of cash from his contract to provide Toronto with electricity. He later lost everything in land speculation, the resultant foreclosure forcing Hank and his wife to move out. Parking costs $3/9 per hour/day.
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Provincial Legislature
The seat of Ontario’s Provincial Legislature resides in a fabulously ornate 1893 sandstone building, north of College St in Queen’s Park. For some homegrown entertainment, head for the visitors’ gallery when the adversarial legislative assembly is in session (Monday to Thursday March to June and September to December). Viewing is free, but security regulations are in full force. You can’t write, read or applaud as the honorable members heatedly debate such pressing issues as skidoo safety. Free 30-minute tours depart from the information desk.
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C
City Hall
Much-maligned City Hall was Toronto’s bold leap of faith into architectural modernity. Its twin clamshell towers, flying-saucer central structure, sexy ramps and funky mosaics were completed in 1965 to Finnish architect Viljo Revell’s award-winning design. An irritable Frank Lloyd Wright called it a ‘headmarker for a grave’; in a macabre twist, Revell died before construction was finished. Collect a self-guided tour pamphlet at the info desk; don’t miss the geeky 1:1250 Toronto scale model in the lobby. Parking is $13.
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