Parliament Hill

The entire parliamentary precinct measures 112,360 square metres (1,209,433 sq ft), bounded on the north by the Ottawa River, on the east by the Rideau Canal, and on the south by Wellington Street. The main buildings are: the Centre Block, built between 1865 and 1927, containing the House of Commons and Senate chambers, and featuring the Peace Tower and Library of Parliament; the East Block, built in two stages in 1867 and 1910, containing senators' offices and preserved Confederation-era rooms; and the West Block, built in 1865, containing ministers' and MPs' offices and meeting rooms. The three blocks are disposed around a large grassy quadrangle, while the Centre Block is surrounded by lawns and a walk overlooking the Ottawa River. The Library of Parliament was opened in 1876. The Legislature of the Province of Canada met for the first time in the new building on June 8, 1866, and the new Parliament of the Dominion of Canada began its first session there on November 6, 1867. The overall site is in a combination of the High Victorian Gothic, English garden, formal garden styles popular at the end of the 19th century. The Palace of Westminster and precinct had recently been rebuilt in a similar style in London, and the choice of a gothic rather than an American-inspired neoclassical design, was a symbol of Canada's continued links to Britain.; The entire parliamentary precinct measures 112,360 square metres (1,209,433 sq ft), bounded on the north by the Ottawa River, on the east by the Rideau Canal, and on the south by Wellington Street. The main buildings are: the Centre Block, built between 1865 and 1927, containing the House of Commons and Senate chambers, and featuring the Peace Tower and Library of Parliament; the East Block, built in two stages in 1867 and 1910, containing senators' offices and preserved Confederation-era rooms; and the West Block, built in 1865, containing ministers' and MPs' offices and meeting rooms. The three blocks are disposed around a large grassy quadrangle, while the Centre Block is surrounded by lawns and a walk overlooking the Ottawa River. The Library of Parliament was opened in 1876. The Legislature of the Province of Canada met for the first time in the new building on June 8, 1866, and the new Parliament of the Dominion of Canada began its first session there on November 6, 1867. The overall site is in a combination of the High Victorian Gothic, English garden, formal garden styles popular at the end of the 19th century. The Palace of Westminster and precinct had recently been rebuilt in a similar style in London, and the choice of a gothic rather than an American-inspired neoclassical design, was a symbol of Canada's continued links to Britain. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 6/17/2009