Port Dalhousie (pronounced dalOOzee) became prominent when the first three Welland Canals used it as a terminus on Lake Ontario. When the terminus moved to Port Welland, Port Dalhousie's moment in the sun faded and now it is a tourist attraction and part of St Catharines.

The original grant for the land was made to the former captain of Butler's Rangers, Peter Ten Broeck. In 1821, his relative, Nathan Pawling, received 300 acres of this grant and this became the terminus for the first Welland Canal. Prosperity followed. In addition to the business brought by the canals, Port Dalhousie soon grew to include shipbuilding and a dry dock owned by the Muir family.

In 1840, shortly after he arrived here, Alexander Muir recorded fourteen families living in the hamlet. By 1862, the population had grown to 1364 people, mainly due to the Second Welland Canal, and Port Dalhousie had become a village.

The six Muir brothers were part of an extensive family that emigrated from Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1834. The oldest brother James stayed in Howick, Quebec with his parents and four sisters. The other six brothers moved on to the Niagara Peninsula. Five of them, led by Alexander, relocated to Port Dalhousie in 1839 and became ships captains. In addition to sailing ships, in 1853 they started to build them. All of their ships had names starting with A. They carried cargo from Duluth, USA, to Liverpool, England. Later, the brothers built a dry dock and their company became the largest employer in the area. Their business was here from 1839 to 1948. When the entrance to the Welland Canal moved from here to Port Weller, Muir Brothers built a dry dock there and its successor is still operating.

Places to see in Port Dalhousie:

• Port Dalhousie Jail

  Port Dalhousie Jail

  Built in 1845, this jail, as you can see if you visit it, would not hold too many prisoners.

• Port Mansion, 12 Lakeport Road

  Port Mansion

  This building was once two separate hotels and was only combined in 1936. Nathan Pawling built the Union Hotel and Bernard McGrath built the McGrath Hotel in 1860. The building has been extensively modified over the years.

• Non-Such Hotel, 26 Lakeport Road

  Non-Such Hotel

  Now a clothing store, despite the sign above, this is one of the oldest buildings in the area, having been built in 1862. It was once run as the Non-Such Hotel by Joseph Wakerly.

• First Lock, Second Canal

  First Lock Second Canal

  When the government decided to rebuilt the Welland Canal, it replaced the canal entrance, which was near the Old Jail, with a new entrance that exists today. In doing so, it built a new first lock. Instead of using wood, as the First Canal did, the Second Canal locks used stone, which is one of the reasons why the stonework of the first lock still exists.

• Dalhousie House

  Dalhousie House

  This building was once the storehouse and office buiding for the Muir Brothers Dry Dock, which was located where the park is now. The building was built by the Muirs about 1850.

• William Muir House, 27 Canal Street

  William Muir House

  This two-storey house was built in 1840 by William Muir of Muir Brothers Dry Docks and Shipyard. From here, William could look down on the dry dock located at the foot of the hill to the rear of the house.

• Captain Reid House, 54 Main Street

  Captain Reid House

  One of the oldest buildings in Port Dalhousie, this house was built by one of the early settlers, Captain John Reid, about 1838.

• William Muir House 2, 43 Ann Street

  William Muir House 2

  This is another of William Muir's houses, and was built in 1865. The original frame house has had many additions over the years. The house is now a bed-and-breakfast establishment and has a magificent view out over Lake Ontario.

• Denton House, 75 Dalhousie Avenue

  Denton House

  Denton House

  Originally built by John Denton on Main Street as a tailor shop, this saltbox house was moved to its present site in 1880.

• Alexander Muir House, 43 Dalhousie Avenue

  Alexander Muir House

  Another fine saltbox house, this house was built by Alexander Muir of Muir Brothers Dry Dock and Shipyard in 1841. The house is now a bed-and-breakfast establishment.

• Customs House, 32 Lock Street

  Customs House

  This house filled two functions. It was the customs house, where all captains of ship passing through the Welland Canal had to report, and it was the harbourmaster's home. It was built in 1845 by the Canadian Government. Lock Street once backed onto the first lock of the First Canal, hence its name.