The architecture of Newfoundland and Labrador retains a sense of history, uniqueness, and unpretentious charm. To see it is to attain an immediate glimpse into the nature of our people and this place. Walk down any street or lane in our distinctive home and you will understand.

Nineteenth and early twentieth century saltbox houses line the narrow winding roadways of our outports - roofs pointing valiantly to the sky. No where else in the world have people loaded their houses on tilting dories, towing them, teetering, across our harbours and bays.

Our colourful homes defy all templates – large and small, quaint and extravagant. Our famous “jelly bean” townhouses are painted so much like candy that you can spend a day guessing the flavour of each house - their tall and slim demeanor, slanting, crowded on steep hills and in hidden alleys.

Historic government and church structures are as abundant and diverse in our province as the evergreen trees in our forests. The Court House and jail in Harbour Grace on the Avalon is an ironic visit, as this was where Pirate Admiral Peter Easton set up his fort in 1610 and plundered the waters from Newfoundland to the Caribbean. Explore the abandoned Moravian missionary settlements in Hopedale and Hebron in Labrador. Let your eyes wander over the loving construction of its churches and dwellings, placed together in the 1700s under the embrace of belief and devotion.

Enjoy spectacular views at any of our historic churches. Stained glass windows and enormous carved ceilings rise over the heads of patrons, who practice their faith in the solid wood pews. The St. John The Baptist Basilica, with its perfectly ornate exterior and long history, shares its breathtaking view of the Narrows with a twenty-first century neighbour, The Rooms. Home to the provincial museum, archives, and art gallery, The Rooms is modeled after the fishing rooms of the past.

Unique. Striking. Poised and strong. Our architecture takes on its own being. Touch the dark stained wood floors of our government structures and feel the indents embedded by the prominent figures of our past. Sleep in a room once owned by a wealthy Bonavista merchant and imagine his thoughts after he snuffed out the light. Purchase your necessities in a general store in Battle Harbour, restored to its 19th century glory. Examine the design of our buildings and houses and decipher the puzzle of their origin.

Just step in and let us show you around.