History
Grand-Pré a place rich with Acadian history is located north of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. This place held Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755. They would live here for 100 years. Grand-Pré was also known during the Acadian Deportation which went from 1755 till 1762. During this time France and Britan were at war. Mainland Nova Scotia had belonged to Britian. Acadians wanted to stay neutral. They did not want to be loyal to the British crown. September 5th, 1755, British Lieutenant-Colonel John Winslow called all Acadian boys and men to a church. There he expelled all French people from the region. The Great Upheaval was then set in motion. This forced Acadians to leave the Maritimes and go to France, the Caribbean, Britian, and other British colonies, thousands died along the way. In total about 2,200 Acadians had been deported from Nova scotia.
Grand-Pré is most known for the deportation. This is because of the journal Winslow had written, and the poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847 called, Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie. This poem is about a young Acadian girl named Evangeline who was separated from her love Gabriel. She searches for Gabriel for years. Travels to Michigan and Louisiana in search. When they are old, they finally reconnect. There story doesn’t have a happy ending as Gabriel soon dies from the plague. Following the walking path at Grand-Pré you can see the statue of Evangeline.
In 1907 John Frederic Herbin bought the cemetery and church of Saint-Charles-des-Mines. Herbin constructed a stone cross two years later. This cross marks the cemetery. He wanted the site to be deeded to Acadians, so he sold it to the Dominion Atlantic Railway on that condition. The same year they got the park. It was in 1982 Grand-Pré became known as a national historic stie.
Now
Later, people began to know Evangline from the festivals. She was known as a respected person more the character of a poem. She had become kind of a mythological character. One festival is Acadian Days in Grand-Pré. It takes place at the end of July. Another one is called festival Acadian de Clare. It takes place in Clare NS at the end of July. During this festival pageants would happen where people dress up as Evangeline and Gabriel. At the last Sunday of July there is a parade celebrating the history of the Acadians. People dressed up as Evangline and Gaberial would be on a float. Festivals like this celebrating the history and the deportation of the Acadians are held in many French communities. Being part Acadian and having been to the Clare festivals I thought it would be good to mention. Grand-Pré historical site to this day is still open to the public.
On site
Today people can still go and visit the wonderful historic site Grand-Pré. There are many things to see there.
Visitor Centre and Interpretation Centre
The visitor centre, in here people can learn how the Acadians made it to Nova Scotia. There is also a presentation. There is a gift shop, art gallery, exhibit hall, and theater.
Herbin Cross
Heading outside you can see the Herbin cross. This cross was built by John Frederic Herbin in 1909. He was a historian, poet, and jeweller. He was also the son of an Acadian women. She bought the land as she thought a church had once stood there. It is said each stone this cross was made with belonged to homes of Acadians. John built this cross at the cite of the Acadian cemetery.
Deportation statue
Upon going outside from the back entrance of the visitor centre there is a sculpture called the deportation 1755. This statue had been dedicated to the place on September 3rd, 2006. Here people can see An Acadian family on the move forced to leave.
Evangline
If you follow the path, you will be met with the statue of Evangline. This statue is based on the poem mentioned earlier called Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie. This statue had been built by Louis-Philippe Hébert. The statue is of his daughter Pauline. Louis died in 1917. His son Henri finished the statue. Evangline had been lost for some time, but eventually she made it back to Acadie. people from New England wanted to see her, they traveled on rail service and steam ship in 1871. In 1869 there was even a rail service that had two engines called Evangeline and Gabriel. It was in 1920 a bronze sculpture of Evangeline was unveiled.
Memorial Church
Behind Evangline is the Memorial Church. This church had been built in 1922. Throughout North America Acadians had helped fund this build. People believe the original Saint-Charles-des-Mines had been on this site. In 2001 Archaeological Excavations were made, these show around where the first Grand-Pré parish church was the Memorial Church now sits. It took until May 14th, 1992, for this church to be classified as a federal heritage building.
Acadian Cemetery
Moving on you will see the Acadian cemetery by weeping willows. Even though this cemetery appears invisible it is one not to be forgotten. During the late 1800s excavations were done in the area. These led to the discovery of a coffin, this is how we know where the cemetery lies. It is unknown just how many Acadians are buried here. In 1982 archaeological digs took place. These took place by the Herbin cross, and evidence of four graves were found. In 2004 another grave was found by mistake. In 2008 there was an archaeological dig that took place with Jonathan Fowler and some students from Saint Mary’s University. This uncovered six graves. It is guessed that during the late 1690s to 1755 about 400 people could have been buried here.
Deportation Cross
This cross was built in memory of the Acadians deported in 1755. It was built in 1924, 2024 marks its 100th anniversary. the architect for the Memorial Church designed this cross. When it was built 280 representatives came by train to see it. In 2005 historical inaccuracies were fixed. This led to the cross being moved to Horton Landing, a ceremony was held when it got moved.
If you’re looking for a place rich with history, come on down to Grand-Pré, and learn the history of the Acadians. Located on 2205 Grand Pré Rd, Grand Pré Ns B0P 1M0.
