1866 – House of Commons Library, Ottawa, Canada
Architect: Thomas Fuller & Chilion Jones
The sole remaining portion of the original central block structure designed by Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. The Palace of Westminster in London had recently been rebuilt in a Gothic Revival style, and the choice of a gothic rather than an American inspired neoclassical design, was a symbol of Canada’s continued links to Britain. The building was entirely destroyed by fire in 1916 except for the Library of Parliament, whose treasures were preserved by a quick-thinking librarian who closed the firedoors on the linking passageway. The interiors of the fantastic structure were designed by Department of Public Works architects as the original drawings by Fuller left the interiors blank.
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Published May 8, 2026
