Hamilton is a city with a storied history and a vibrant future. This is the city that began, after all, with a poignant story of romance, separation and reunion.

Robert Land, a United Empire Loyalist, was the first white settler in the area, having fled from persecution in Pennsylvania, narrowly escaping execution. He settled at the head of the lake, believing his wife and children to be dead. His wife Phebe,  had however managed to escape with her children to Nova Scotia, also convinced that her husband was dead.

When she journeyed to Niagara to claim farmland that was given to the loyalists, she heard rumours of a man called Land living in what would become Hamilton. She hired a boat, traveled to satisfy her curiosity and discovered her long lost husband. The reunion, according to legend, was a joyous one, and the couple and their family, having been granted one thousand acres in the centre of what would become Hamilton, helped to build the community that would be home to generations of their descendants.

Robert and Phebe are buried in the Land Vault in historic Hamilton Cemetery, alongside such interesting characters as William Cook, a Canadian soldier who was killed with General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn, and Isabella Whyte, the secret half sister of Queen Victoria. Tours of this gothic cemetery are conducted regularly, and offer a running commentary on the city’s colourful past.

The Land story is just one of the many that are part of the early history of Hamilton, and which make a visit to the well preserved historic sites in the area a layered and entertaining experience. Dundurn Castle, Whitehern, Griffin House and Westfield Village are just some of the authentically reconstructed or preserved sites where visitors can enjoy a taste of the past.
Architecturally, Hamilton is also exceptionally blessed. Stand at the corner of James Street and Main for example, and you are presented with one of the best 360 degree tours of iconic architecture – the Gothic Revival style of the Pigott Building, the neo-classical former Bank of Montreal, the terra-cotta details of the Sun Life Building, the soaring pillars of the Landed Bank and Loan building, and the cozy Victorian charm of the Hamilton Club. Just up the street stands the Gothic revival beauty of St. Pauls.

There’s more than history to Hamilton. This is a community of vibrant neighbourhoods, each with a distinct character. Westdale, Ancaster and Dundas offer culturally rich and exciting areas for dining, visiting galleries, and shopping. In downtown Hamilton, James Street North is a bustling engine of artistic energy with new galleries and emerging artists making their homes here. Locke Street is the place for antiques, collectibles and cafes, while Hess Village, with its cobbled streets, upscale dining and funky club scene swings till the wee hours. The Waterfront district has become a Mecca for hikers, boarders and water sport enthusiasts. In the East end, there is a cornucopia of ethnic cultures, whose food stores and shops, like the bargain-priced fabric emporiums on Ottawa Street, are a buyer’s delight.

And circling the cosmopolitan pleasures of the city are some of the best urban pleasures to be had in Ontario – the splendour of Canada’s most important gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the famous Bruce Trail, and an abundance of conservation areas, water parks and walking paths.  Overlooking the waters of Lake Ontario, and extending up over the protective circle of the Niagara Escarpment, this is a city whose proximity to Toronto and the Niagara Peninsula makes it an ideal destination for the traveler who wants to get close to the heart of the real Ontario.