Neighbourhood Downtown

1650 - 1760

A rural landscape

What is now Montreal's downtown core was once covered by woodlands and the fields of Côte Saint-Antoine. This site was favoured as it was highly fertile, was protected from north-west winds, and faced the sun. The nearby Fort de la Montagne, a mission built in the late 17th century, welcomed various Amerindian nations that had been converted to Christianity and allied with the French. First located on the southern flanks of Mount Royal, it was moved to Sault-au-Récollet in 1696. The sector was then developed by the Sulpicians with orchards, farms, vineyards, and a stone quarry.

Grand Séminaire de Montréal, Mountain (de la Montagne) Fort

14 cm
9 cm
© Dinu Bumbaru © Héritage Montréal

1650 - 1760

A rural landscape

What is now Montreal's downtown core was once covered by woodlands and the fields of Côte Saint-Antoine. This site was favoured as it was highly fertile, was protected from north-west winds, and faced the sun. The nearby Fort de la Montagne, a mission built in the late 17th century, welcomed various Amerindian nations that had been converted to Christianity and allied with the French. First located on the southern flanks of Mount Royal, it was moved to Sault-au-Récollet in 1696. The sector was then developed by the Sulpicians with orchards, farms, vineyards, and a stone quarry.

1761 - 1840

The bourgeois gentlemen of the north-west

After Montreal fell to the British, the population of what is now Old Montreal grew rapidly. Between 1801 and 1821, the fortifications were destroyed, allowing the city to expand westward. In the late 18th and early 19th century, part of what is now the downtown area was occupied by cemeteries (Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant).

Another sector belonged to a wealthy new social group: the barons of the fur trade and the international merchants; the McGills, Frobishers, McGillvrays, McTavishes, Desrivières, Guys, and others turned the area into a vacation spot with gardens, orchards, country homes, and ponds. Côte Saint-Antoine Road was the major thoroughfare, and around 1840, it was supplemented by Sherbrooke, Sainte-Catherine, and Dorchester streets.

View of Montréal from the mountain

© Rare Books and Special Collections Division, McGill University Library, © Héritage Montréal

1761 - 1840

The bourgeois gentlemen of the north-west

After Montreal fell to the British, the population of what is now Old Montreal grew rapidly. Between 1801 and 1821, the fortifications were destroyed, allowing the city to expand westward. In the late 18th and early 19th century, part of what is now the downtown area was occupied by cemeteries (Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant).

Another sector belonged to a wealthy new social group: the barons of the fur trade and the international merchants; the McGills, Frobishers, McGillvrays, McTavishes, Desrivières, Guys, and others turned the area into a vacation spot with gardens, orchards, country homes, and ponds. Côte Saint-Antoine Road was the major thoroughfare, and around 1840, it was supplemented by Sherbrooke, Sainte-Catherine, and Dorchester streets.

1841 - 1881

Montreal's New Town

Beginning in 1840, rich merchants such as John Redpath and Thomas Phillips sub-divided and developed their lands with the help of renowned architects such as John Ostell, creating a New Town for the wealthy. The shape and size of the lots varied, depending on the investor and the architect, but they were generally laid out in a rectangular grid pattern in the form of row housing - or townhouses - contiguous single-family homes with a uniform facade and a back lane.

The arrival of more Protestant Anglophones lead to the building of new Presbyterian, Anglican (Christ Church Cathedral), and Methodist (St. James) churches. During this same period, a synagogue was built along with the new Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur Catholic cathedral (now Marie-Reine-du-Monde) which was previously located in the Latin Quarter until it burned down in 1852. A few years later, in the interests of public health, the cemeteries were moved to the mountain.

The first trams of the Montreal City Passenger Railway appeared on St. Catherine Street and St. Lawrence Boulevard around 1864, with both of these streets becoming vibrant commercial hubs.

Aerial view of the elevation plan of Royal Albert Bridge
February 17 1876
40 cm
55 cm
© Dinu Bumbaru, © Héritage Montréal

1841 - 1881

Montreal's New Town

Beginning in 1840, rich merchants such as John Redpath and Thomas Phillips sub-divided and developed their lands with the help of renowned architects such as John Ostell, creating a New Town for the wealthy. The shape and size of the lots varied, depending on the investor and the architect, but they were generally laid out in a rectangular grid pattern in the form of row housing - or townhouses - contiguous single-family homes with a uniform facade and a back lane.

The arrival of more Protestant Anglophones lead to the building of new Presbyterian, Anglican (Christ Church Cathedral), and Methodist (St. James) churches. During this same period, a synagogue was built along with the new Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur Catholic cathedral (now Marie-Reine-du-Monde) which was previously located in the Latin Quarter until it burned down in 1852. A few years later, in the interests of public health, the cemeteries were moved to the mountain.

The first trams of the Montreal City Passenger Railway appeared on St. Catherine Street and St. Lawrence Boulevard around 1864, with both of these streets becoming vibrant commercial hubs.

1882-1938

The downtown core shifts

The railway network grew more complex with competition between the Grand Trunk Railway and the new Canadian Pacific (CP), founded in 1881. CP built Windsor Station, its head office and most imposing station, and then the prestigious Windsor Hotel. Montreal became the rail metropolis of Canada.

Following in the wake of Morgan's in 1891, major stores and businesses began to move from Saint-Jacques Street and Square Victoria (in what is now Old Montreal) to be closer to their wealthy customers, newly established in sumptuous new homes. Beginning in 1900, luxury apartments were built for members of the upper class, who wished to live in a convenient, centrally located, and sought-after location. Like hotels, elegant apartment buildings such as the Marlborough and Bishop Court offered shared services such as a telephone exchange and a service elevator. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (first built in Phillips Square), hotels, private clubs, churches, banks, elegant concert halls, and luxury businesses sprang up on and around Sherbrooke Street.

In the early 20th century, competition was still stiff between the railroads. Between 1910 and 1912, CP renovated and expanded Windsor Station, while in 1938 Canadian National (a merger of the Grand Trunk Railway and the Canadian Northern Railway), began to build Central Station. Electricity had come to the area in 1886, and the service sector now began to grow in importance. Skyscrapers built around Dominion Square (now Dorchester Square), around Phillips Square, and along Bleury Street began to transform the city's skyline. These included the Dominion Square Building, the Sun Life Building, the Acadia apartments, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Unity Building, and many more. Montreal's downtown core was taking shape. Then the economic events triggered by the stock market crash of 1929 hit Montreal hard - particularly downtown businesses - and Toronto quickly began to pick up the slack.

Windsor Station and Dominion Square

18.9 cm
24 cm
© HEC Montréal, © Héritage Montréal

1882-1938

The downtown core shifts

The railway network grew more complex with competition between the Grand Trunk Railway and the new Canadian Pacific (CP), founded in 1881. CP built Windsor Station, its head office and most imposing station, and then the prestigious Windsor Hotel. Montreal became the rail metropolis of Canada.

Following in the wake of Morgan's in 1891, major stores and businesses began to move from Saint-Jacques Street and Square Victoria (in what is now Old Montreal) to be closer to their wealthy customers, newly established in sumptuous new homes. Beginning in 1900, luxury apartments were built for members of the upper class, who wished to live in a convenient, centrally located, and sought-after location. Like hotels, elegant apartment buildings such as the Marlborough and Bishop Court offered shared services such as a telephone exchange and a service elevator. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (first built in Phillips Square), hotels, private clubs, churches, banks, elegant concert halls, and luxury businesses sprang up on and around Sherbrooke Street.

In the early 20th century, competition was still stiff between the railroads. Between 1910 and 1912, CP renovated and expanded Windsor Station, while in 1938 Canadian National (a merger of the Grand Trunk Railway and the Canadian Northern Railway), began to build Central Station. Electricity had come to the area in 1886, and the service sector now began to grow in importance. Skyscrapers built around Dominion Square (now Dorchester Square), around Phillips Square, and along Bleury Street began to transform the city's skyline. These included the Dominion Square Building, the Sun Life Building, the Acadia apartments, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Unity Building, and many more. Montreal's downtown core was taking shape. Then the economic events triggered by the stock market crash of 1929 hit Montreal hard - particularly downtown businesses - and Toronto quickly began to pick up the slack.

1939-2008

A modern city

After a few bleak years, the downtown core began to be rebuilt. With the growing importance of the automobile, Dorchester Street (now René-Lévesque Boulevard) was widened in 1943. In the late 1950s, developers could erect buildings higher than ten stories, and significant infrastructure was built or completed in the 1960s. Canadian National completed its Central Station with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel (1958) and Place Ville Marie (1962); the opening of the metro (subway) system in 1966 facilitated access to the downtown core. The building of Place Ville-Marie launched the development of Montreal's underground city, an innovative network of pedestrian tunnels linking buildings, terminals, offices, restaurants, cultural institutions, and downtown metro stations stretching from the Bell Centre to Place des Arts. The head office of Hydro-Québec (1964) and Complexe Desjardins (1976), both major rental buildings, were built. After a brief slowdown, new projects began to revitalize the city centre in the early 1980s, including projects surrounding McGill College Avenue, Complexe Guy-Favreau, and office towers occupied by the National Bank and Bell Canada.

Each day, Place des Arts, the numerous museums and galleries, retail businesses, offices, department stores, and hotels draw Montrealers, commuters, tourists, and suburbanites into the heart of the city.

Dorchester Street

8.8 cm
13.8 cm
© Dinu Bumbaru, © Héritage Montréal

1939-2008

A modern city

After a few bleak years, the downtown core began to be rebuilt. With the growing importance of the automobile, Dorchester Street (now René-Lévesque Boulevard) was widened in 1943. In the late 1950s, developers could erect buildings higher than ten stories, and significant infrastructure was built or completed in the 1960s. Canadian National completed its Central Station with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel (1958) and Place Ville Marie (1962); the opening of the metro (subway) system in 1966 facilitated access to the downtown core. The building of Place Ville-Marie launched the development of Montreal's underground city, an innovative network of pedestrian tunnels linking buildings, terminals, offices, restaurants, cultural institutions, and downtown metro stations stretching from the Bell Centre to Place des Arts. The head office of Hydro-Québec (1964) and Complexe Desjardins (1976), both major rental buildings, were built. After a brief slowdown, new projects began to revitalize the city centre in the early 1980s, including projects surrounding McGill College Avenue, Complexe Guy-Favreau, and office towers occupied by the National Bank and Bell Canada.

Each day, Place des Arts, the numerous museums and galleries, retail businesses, offices, department stores, and hotels draw Montrealers, commuters, tourists, and suburbanites into the heart of the city.