After the devastating War of 1812, the promise of Belle Vue gave us hope.
Today, Belle Vue National Historic Site Amherstburg inspires future generations by connecting people,preserving national heritage and fueling the creative vitality
of our communities!
Belle Vue National Historic Site Amherstburg sits quietly, facing the Detroit River just south of downtown Amherstburg. For 200 years, it has stood majestically as a reminder of a time when it was a symbol of a town and nation rebuilding after the War of 1812.
Built between 1816-1819 by Robert Reynolds, the Deputy Assistant Commissary General at Fort Malden, it was also the home of his sisters, Margaret and Catherine Reynolds, whose landscape paintings provide an invaluable record of early 19th century life in Upper Canada. Their works hang in the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Windsor Museum, Library and Archives Canada and Fort Malden National Historic Site.
After the Reynolds family sold the property, the house was improved and updated by three other families. William Johnston added the two bay window areas for more livable space. Perry Leighton was known as an antiquarian as he used one of the newer wings as his personal museum. The John G. Mullen family spent three years restoring the building almost back to the original style of the house.
During its history, Belle Vue has served as a convalescent hospital for those brave veterans who served in WWI and to whom we owe so much. Later, it also housed the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church providing a connection to the community and a pillar for sense of place.
As a tribute to its importance in Canadian history, Belle Vue was designated a national historic site in 1959. It is one of only two buildings in Canada designated for its Palladian style architecture. The property has also been recognized by the Provincial (1984) and Municipal (1988) governments for its historic importance and for the Reynolds family’s contributions.
Belle Vue has been unoccupied since 2001 and placed on the Top Ten Endangered Places List by Heritage Canada Foundation in 2009.
Thanks to lobbying by citizens and the vision of the administration of the Town of Amherstburg, Belle Vue will continue to stand proudly on the shores of the Detroit River as a reminder of where we began and of the people who had the courage, fortitude and vision to remain strong in the face of adversity.
Belle Vue Conservancy ® , Amherstburg, Ontario
Interested in learning more about us?
NEWS FLASH-Please help support us!
Belle Vue House has been chosen to enter in to Canada Heritage Trust “This Place Matters” on line voting competition. Voting has already started and runs until July 20 at noon.
The more times you vote and/or donate, the greater the chance it is to win the grand prize of $60,000 towards new windows. You can vote once a day on multiple e mails that you have. Please share with anyone you know from Facebook or Twitter to reach more people.
In addition, if you choose, $1 = 1 vote. Even if we don’t win the grand prize, the Belle Vue project gets to keep whatever is raised.
You just need to register your e mail address once and then you are set to go each day. Click on the "this place matters" image to begin.
