PHOTOGRAPH
CulturePrince Edward Island
Date1973
Dimensions9 x 9 cm (3 9/16 x 3 9/16 in.)
Object numberXHF.2024.1.12.6
DescriptionA small colour photograph showing Queen Elizabeth exiting Beaconsfield Historic House in 1973. To the right of the Queen is Father Francis Bolger. A large crowd is outside of the house and several RCMP officers can be seen waiting around a black vehicle. On the reverse is taped an address which reads “Rider 624 Rowanwood Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K2A 3E2”.Narrative
In 1971, a historic home in Charlottetown that served as a resident for student nurses was gifted to the PEI Heritage Foundation by the federal government. Two years later, during PEI’s centennial celebrations in 1973, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived at Beaconsfield Historic House for its official opening.
This colour photograph depicts Queen Elizabeth II exiting the historic house at the official opening on the morning of July 2. Prince Phillip can be seen behind the Queen, and Father Francis Bolger, a well-known Island historian who sat on the board of the PEI Heritage Foundation walks beside the Queen.
The Foundation put a lot of work into getting Beaconsfield ready for the visit. In a blog post from 2003, Hennessey recalled the “frightening” feeling of wondering how it would all come together. It did come together though, and the distinguished guests were “greeted as if it had been no work at all.” Today, Beaconsfield is one of the top places for tourists in Charlottetown to stop by and it hosts a vast array of concerts, lectures, and other special events in its Carriage House.
1890