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Old Port Clock Tower

MontréalAttractionlandmark
Old Port Clock Tower
Photo: photo source

The 45-metre Sailors Memorial Clock stands at the river edge, framing sunrise, the working port and the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

Guide's tip. The Old Port site is currently open 6 a.m. to midnight. Exterior viewing is dependable; do not assume the tower interior or stairs are open without a current official listing.

On a walking tour. Stop 5 of 10 on the walking tour Montréal, birthplace to the mountain, every stop on a map in walking order.

about 45 min for a visit

The story

The Old Port Clock Tower was built from 1919 to 1922 as both a navigation marker and a memorial to Canadian sailors who died in the First World War. Its four clock faces and pale stone shaft rise 45 metres beside the St. Lawrence.

The monument works through its position more than decoration. Water, sky, port activity and the Jacques Cartier Bridge keep changing around a simple vertical form. At sunrise the tower can appear warm and solid, while later light makes it almost merge with the river haze.

Continue beyond the tower and look back. That reversal shows how it marks the end of the quay and the edge of the historic city. The Old Port grounds currently list access from 6 a.m. to midnight. Interior tower access is not assumed unless the official site specifically offers it, so the exterior and waterfront remain the dependable visit.

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