GENERAL INFORMATION

Most Canadians have heard of Laura Secord, if only from the chocolate boxes which bear her name and her stylized corporate image. Fewer Canadians are acquainted with the actual details of her life story, or the important role she played in Canadian history.

In this tour, you will learn about Laura Secord's life and exploits. You'll also go to points of interest that were important during the War of 1812, or which owe their existence in some way to the War and its outcomes. On the way, you’ll also visit some historical destinations that shaped the history and settlement patterns of the Niagara region, and learn about other important historical figures like William Hamilton Merritt and John DeCew.

Your tour will start at the Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston, Ontario. Please see the "Directions to Tour Starting Point" below.  

 Point A: Laura Secord Homestead

Click to play or download LAURA SECORD HOMESTEAD (mp3 format).

 Leaving the Homestead parking lot, turn left on Partition Street, then turn left and head north on Queenston St toward Dumfries St for about 350 m. Take the 3rd right onto Walnut St. The Laura Secord Public School / Willowbank School will be on the right.

Point B: Laura Secord Public School, Queenston

Click to play or download LAURA SECORD PUBLIC SCHOOL /WILLOWBANK SCHOOL (mp3 format).

Turn around on Walnut Street and return to Queenston Street. Turn left onto Queenston Street and drive about 750 metres. Then turn left onto the Niagara Parkway.

Take your first right onto York Road. Follow this road for about 11 kilometres. It will pass by amenities such as bathrooms and restaurants.

The road will then turn into ANOTHER Queenston Street (this time in St. Catharines), and shortly you will pass the Homer Bridge over the Welland Canal. This is the Village of Homer. If the bridge is up due to boating traffic, you take advantage of the opportunity to listen to the trip clip below.

Once you pass over the bridge, turn left onto the Welland Canals Parkway and pull over where it is safe to do so, or continue driving if you wish to do so.
 

Point C: Village of Homer

Click to play or download VILLAGE OF HOMER TripClip (mp3 format).

Just around the Homer Bridge you can stop and imagine what it must have looked like before the Welland Canal developments and during the time of Laura Secord. 

Continue to go south on Welland Canals Parkway for about 2 kilometres.

When you reach Glendale Avenue it will appear that the Parkway has ended. But it has not! Turn right, then make a quick left in about 40 metres to continue on the Welland Canals Parkway.

Continue onto Welland Canals Parkway for another 2.5 kilometres. When you have ascended the Niagara Escarpment and passed the Twin Flight Locks of Thorold on your left, look for Chapel Street South. Turn right onto Chapel St South. Take the First left onto Clairmont Street. When you pass Front Street, Clairmont will turn into Sullivan Avenue. Within 100 metres you will have reached Battle of Beaverdams Park, which will be on your left side. 

Point D: Battle of Beaverdams Park

Click to play or download BATTLE OF BEAVERDAMS PARK TripClip (mp3 format).

Continue on Sullivan Avenue for another 100 metres or so. Take the first left onto Pine St South.

Drive 270 metres then take the first left onto Garden Street. Drive another 230 metres and turn right onto Cleveland Street.

You will then take the first left onto Lyndon St West, and then shortly you will take the first left onto Ormond St South. Continue on Ormond Street South for about one kilometre, then turn left onto St David St E.

Continue onto St. David Street East as it turns into St. David's Road. Keep driving. you will pass over a highway (Highway 406). Continue driving until you reach Brock University's Main Campus. Turn left onto Merrittville Highway. Drive 1 kilometre, then turn right onto Decew Rd. You will see your destination will be on the right side after 600 metres. 

Point E: DeCew House

Click to play or download DECEW HOUSE TripClip (mp3 format).

Turn around on Decew Rd and drive toward Merrittville Highway. Continue onto Decew Road until it turns into Beaverdams Road. You will turn left onto Beaverdams Rd, then drive about 1.7 km. Then turn left onto Pine St S/Regional Rd 67. Turn right after 300 metres and merge onto Highway 58 South. Continue onto the Highway as it turns into Thorold Stone Road.

Continue onto Thorold Stone Road for 7 kilometres.

Turn right onto Drummond Road and continue on it for 3 kilometres. Then turn left onto Lundy's Lane. On your right-hand side you will see a church, followed by the Drummond Hill Cementary where Laura Secord's gravesite is located.

Point F: Laura Secord Gravesite

Click to play or download LAURA SECORD GRAVESITE TripClip (mp3 format).

Point G: Laura Secord House, Chippawa

Click to play or download LAURA'S LATER LIFE TripClip (mp3 format).

Turn around on Bridgewater Street and take the first left onto Portage Road. In 100 metres, take the first right onto Macklem Street. Continue on Mackelm as it turns into the Niagara Parkway. You will drive 15 kilometres along the scenic Niagara Parkway with a beautiful of the Niagara River and the /Canadian/American border.

In Queenston you will reach a roundabout. Follow the signs to enter the Queenston Heights Park, the location where where the Laura Secord Monument is located.

Point H: Laura Secord Monument, Queenston Heights

Click to play or download LAURA SECORD MONUMENT TripClip (mp3 format).

If you choose to continue to your point of origin, the Laura Secord Homestead, descend the Niagara Escarpment on the Niagara Parkway by going straight through the roundabout. Follow signs for the Laura Secord Homestead, or turn right onto Partition Street 200 metres after descending. The Homestead will be on your left side on Partition Street.

Optional: Laura Secord Chocolates, Pen Centre

View Google map of entire tour

DIRECTIONS TO TOUR STARTING POINT at laura secord homestead

From Toronto:
1.Follow the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), looking for signs for Niagara/East Hamilton/St. Catharines/Fort Erie 
2. Continue on Highway 405 by keeping left and following signs for Queenston Lewiston U.S.A 
3. Take the Stanley Avenue/Regional Road 102 exit toward Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake 
4. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Niagara Pkwy/Niagara-on-the-Lake 
5. Turn left onto Stanley Ave 
6. Slight right onto Portage Rd (signs for Portage Road/Niagara Parkway/Queenston/Niagara on the Lake) 
7.At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Niagara Pkwy 
8.Turn right onto Queenston St
9. Your destination (POINT A - Laura Secord Homestead) will be on the left

From Niagara:

1. Take Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) Toronto-bound.

2. Take exit 34 for Regional Road 101/Mountain Road
3. Turn right onto Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101 (signs for Mountain Road E)
4. At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101
5. Turn left onto St Paul Ave/Regional Rd 100
6. Continue to follow St. Paul Ave/Regional Rd 100
7. Turn right onto York Rd (signs for Queenston)
8. Turn left onto Niagara Pkwy
9. Turn right onto Queenston St
10. Your destination (POINT A - Laura Secord Homestead) will be on the left 

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