Before the Québec Bridge opened in 1917, residents had two ways of crossing the river. In summer, they could take a boat across. In winter, however, they crossed on the ice bridge that formed when the river froze over. It was then that the crossing—by horse-drawn sleigh—was the quickest and easiest, and that the residents of Québec City and Lévis, on the opposite bank of the St. Lawrence River, spent the most time together. Rediscover this bygone era!
James Pattison Cockburn
This watercolour by renowned artist James Pattison Cockburn depicts the ice bridge that formed before Québec City in the early 19th century. On the ice, we see small groups of locals chatting. This icy place was used in winter as a kind of public square, where citizens could meet and socialize.
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