THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Walk the sites where Montreal faced the crisis of 1847 and discover the human stories behind the Black Rock memorial. This two-hour guided route links the Old Port, fever sheds, and mass-burial locations with clear historical context and practical tips for visiting.
Walk the sites where Montreal faced the crisis of 1847 and discover the human stories behind the Black Rock memorial. This two-hour guided route links the Old Port, fever sheds, and mass-burial locations with clear historical context and practical tips for visiting.
The tour begins outside Pointe-à-Callière, where cobblestones cool underfoot and the St. Lawrence’s breath moves the air toward Old Montreal. A small group threads through narrow streets, passing warehouses that once stored grain and the Lachine Canal’s stone edges where ships and sorrow met in 1847.
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Operated by Haunted Montreal · Montreal, Quebec
The tour begins outside Pointe-à-Callière, where cobblestones cool underfoot and the St. Lawrence’s breath moves the air toward Old Montreal. A small group threads through narrow streets, passing warehouses that once stored grain and the Lachine Canal’s stone edges where ships and sorrow met in 1847.
In the span of two hours the guide pieces together a human map: the Grey Nuns’ Motherhouse that treated fevered newcomers, the fever sheds and mass burial sites near the canal, and finally the Black Rock — the carved memorial for over 6,000 Irish refugees who died on these shores. The story is both local and global: potato blight in Ireland, colonial policies, and transatlantic migration that reshaped Montreal’s working-class neighborhoods.
Geology and urban engineering enter the narrative too — the river’s channeling and the canal’s locks shaped where people landed, where makeshift hospitals were set up, and where unmarked graves were dug. You’ll hear how parish records and archaeology helped recover names and routes, and how contemporary Montreal remembers the event today.
Practical details are straightforward: expect paved sidewalks, some cobblestones, and short stair sections; the pace is reflective rather than fast. Weather matters — bring waterproof layers in spring and fall, a hat and water in summer, and insulated outerwear if you book in cold months. Photography is allowed, but treat memorials with quiet respect. Meet at 350 Place Royale and plan 2 hours for the route and final reflection at the Black Rock.
The meeting point is outside Pointe‑à‑Callière at 350 Place Royale; the tour ends at the Black Rock memorial where your guide can point you to nearby transit.
Yes, for those who can walk for two hours and navigate uneven sidewalks; not recommended for people with serious mobility, spinal, or heart conditions.
Service animals are permitted; other pets are not advised due to urban traffic and memorial etiquette.
Photography is allowed, but please be respectful at memorials and when the guide requests quiet or reflection.
Haunted Montreal operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The tour begins outside Pointe-à-Callière, where cobblestones cool underfoot and the St. Lawrence’s breath moves the air toward Old Montreal. A small group threads through narrow streets, passing warehouses that once stored grain and the Lachine Canal’s stone edges where ships and sorrow met in 1847.
The tour begins outside Pointe-à-Callière, where cobblestones cool underfoot and the St. Lawrence’s breath moves the air toward Old Montreal. A small group threads through narrow streets, passing warehouses that once stored grain and the Lachine Canal’s stone edges where ships and sorrow met in 1847.
In the span of two hours the guide pieces together a human map: the Grey Nuns’ Motherhouse that treated fevered newcomers, the fever sheds and mass burial sites near the canal, and finally the Black Rock — the carved memorial for over 6,000 Irish refugees who died on these shores. The story is both local and global: potato blight in Ireland, colonial policies, and transatlantic migration that reshaped Montreal’s working-class neighborhoods.
Geology and urban engineering enter the narrative too — the river’s channeling and the canal’s locks shaped where people landed, where makeshift hospitals were set up, and where unmarked graves were dug. You’ll hear how parish records and archaeology helped recover names and routes, and how contemporary Montreal remembers the event today.
Practical details are straightforward: expect paved sidewalks, some cobblestones, and short stair sections; the pace is reflective rather than fast. Weather matters — bring waterproof layers in spring and fall, a hat and water in summer, and insulated outerwear if you book in cold months. Photography is allowed, but treat memorials with quiet respect. Meet at 350 Place Royale and plan 2 hours for the route and final reflection at the Black Rock.