The Historic Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City

The Fairmont Château Frontenac, a magnificent transitional building and possibly the most superbly situated hotel in the world opened its doors to the world on December 18th, 1893. Commonly referred to as the Château Frontenac (referring to a time before Fairmont Group of hotels purchased the building), it is a designated National Historic Site located in Quebec City, and is one of the countries Grand Railway Hotels originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Modelled on seventeenth-century French architecture, the Châteauesque styled building was designed by Bruce Price and was completed with the most advanced features of the period. An entirely modern structure at its time, the steel and stone building came with electrical switches, electric lighting throughout, and three manually operated Otis Fensom elevators.

Historic Photograph
Elevators, Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, QC, 1925
Sydney Jack Hayward
1925, 20th century
Silver salts on paper - Gelatin silver process
19 x 24 cm
From Anglin-Norcross Limited
MP-0000.2080.43
© McCord Museum

To shuttle passengers and their luggage through the 18 storey monolith, architects installed three gated manually operated elevators in the main lobby which serviced the main structure and tower. More were added following two major expansions to the hotel, one in 1908–09, and another in 1920–24.

Erected on the very edge of a cliff overlooking a 76m (250ft) drop, at a height of 80-metres (260 ft), the Chateau Frontenac was the tallest building in the entire province of Quebec. With commanding views over the St.Lawrence River, this Canadian castle on a hill, with ballrooms, turrets and all, overlooks a mighty river and a quaint historic French-Canadian town. The Chateau Frontenac was designed in perfect harmony with the medieval atmosphere of Quebec while delivering unparalleled luxury and building technology to its over 611 rooms.

Historic Photograph Elevator Hall near office, Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, QC, 1925
Sydney Jack Hayward
1925, 20th century
Silver salts on paper - Gelatin silver process
24 x 19 cm
From Anglin-Norcross Limited
MP-0000.2080.44
© McCord Museum

Dufferin Terrace and Chateau Frontenac, 1908

Chateau Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace, Quebec. 1910

The Grand Railway Hotels of Canada have borne witness to some notable moments in Canadian politics and pop culture.

During World War II, the Château Frontenac hosted two important conferences on military strategy. The first Quebec Conference, in August 1943, Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King hosted leaders of the Allied powers, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, (Stalin was invited but did not attend) and after the war the second Quebec Conference was held to negotiate the demilitarization of Germany.

The Royal York in Toronto has hosted the Queen of England on her many trips to Canada. Royal York elevator bellman Michael Calnan has worked the Queen’s private elevator for each of her visits.

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Elevator History, Heritage Elevator, Hotel ElevatorJoshua NelsonDecember 18, 2019Hotel, Quebec, Canada, History, Historic, Otis Elevator