Early Toronto

The Town of York (now Toronto) expanded rapidly beyond the 10 small blocks laid out by Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe in 1793. The town’s role as the capital of Upper Canada made it a centre of government, law, education and finance. The harbour and roads that had served so well during the War of 1812 became shipping routes for raw and manufactured goods between Toronto and its markets, transforming the town, and then the city, into a commercial centre.

The stories and sites gathered under the theme of “Roots of Urban Toronto” focus on the original town of York and the City of Toronto, which was incorporated in 1834, as well as early sites in the former townships of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. Those townships grew into cities in their own right before being amalgamated with Toronto in 1998.

This trail highlights the original core of the old City of Toronto and its predecessor the town of York. It starts at the location of the first purpose-built parliament buildings in York, which were also the first brick buildings in the town. Their destruction during the Battle of York in 1813 was reciprocated by the burning of the White House in 1814.

The Stories

First Parliament Buildings Torched by Invaders , 1813
Front St. E. and Berkeley St.
Protesters Shout Down Planners and Save Market , 1971
St. Lawrence Market
Toronto’s Very Own “Flatiron Building” , 1891
49 Wellington St. E.
Anti-Slavery Lecture Opens Hall , 1851
157 King St. E.
Setting the Standard for Churches in Toronto , 1850
65 Church St.
City of Churches: St. Michael’s Cathedral , 1848
200 Church St.
Architect Gets Artistic Revenge on Enemies , 1899
Old City Hall
Osgoode Hall: Rare Treasure in an Urban Rush , 1832
130 Queen St W
Saving Old House Inspires Preservation , April 01, 1972
160 Queen St. W.
Stately Manor Becomes First Art Museum , 1910
317 Dundas St. W.
Card-Playing Architect Trumps Competition , 1892
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Out of the Ashes: University College Rebuilt , 1892
15 King's College Circle

Click to enlarge

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- 43.650017 -79.363250
  First Parliament Buildings Torched by Invaders
  
  First Parliament Buildings Torched by Invaders 1813 Front St. E. and Berkeley St.
- 43.649142 -79.371748
  Protesters Shout Down Planners and Save Market
  
  Protesters Shout Down Planners and Save Market 1971 St. Lawrence Market
- 43.648455 -79.374158
  Toronto’s Very Own “Flatiron Building”
  
  Toronto’s Very Own “Flatiron Building” 1891 49 Wellington St. E.
- 43.650252 -79.372283
  Anti-Slavery Lecture Opens Hall
  
  Anti-Slavery Lecture Opens Hall 1851 157 King St. E.
- 43.650438 -79.374011
  Setting the Standard for Churches in Toronto
  
  Setting the Standard for Churches in Toronto 1850 65 Church St.
- 43.654910 -79.377447
  City of Churches: St. Michael’s Cathedral
  
  City of Churches: St. Michael’s Cathedral 1848 200 Church St.
- 43.652595 -79.381671
  Architect Gets Artistic Revenge on Enemies
  
  Architect Gets Artistic Revenge on Enemies 1899 Old City Hall
- 43.651704 -79.385383
  Osgoode Hall: Rare Treasure in an Urban Rush
  
  Osgoode Hall: Rare Treasure in an Urban Rush 1832 130 Queen St W
- 43.651050 -79.387067
  Saving Old House Inspires Preservation
  
  Saving Old House Inspires Preservation April 01, 1972 160 Queen St. W.
- 43.653044 -79.392258
  Stately Manor Becomes First Art Museum
  
  Stately Manor Becomes First Art Museum 1910 317 Dundas St. W.
- 43.661525 -79.391182
  Card-Playing Architect Trumps Competition
  
  Card-Playing Architect Trumps Competition 1892 Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- 43.662222 -79.395833
  Out of the Ashes: University College Rebuilt
  
  Out of the Ashes: University College Rebuilt 1892 15 King's College Circle
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