In the 19th century, before deep-water wharfs were built, the shoreline waters were too shallow for large boats at low tide. When such vessels stopped in Québec City, they had to anchor offshore. Goods and passengers were shuttled in on small boats, from ship to riverbank.

1840 - 1890

The river: A flowing source of trade and industry

Thanks to its advantageous position on the St. Lawrence River, Québec City has long been a hub for Canada’s maritime traffic. Its port is particularly significant for the import and export of goods. Québec City’s economy relied heavily on the export of timber, which was abundant all around the city. This wood was used in shipbuilding, for example. Numerous other industries, such as pulp and paper, developed near the river in the late 19th century. Discover this aspect of Québec City’s past through the artwork and photos of the period!

Boats on the St. Lawrence River

Henry Griffiths, after William Henry Bartlett In the 19th century, before deep-water wharfs were built, the shoreline waters were too shallow for large boats at low tide. When such vessels stopped in Québec City, they had to anchor offshore. Goods and passengers were shuttled in on small boats, from ship to riverbank.

Chronoscope Can you identify the types of boats in this image? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1840

Source: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: 1840

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