603 Fort Rodd Hill Road
Victoria, B.C. V9C 2W8
Canada
Colwood is proud to be home to two remarkable national historic sites administered by Parks Canada: Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse. These sites offer an unforgettable experience, blending rich history with stunning natural beauty, making them a must-visit location in Greater Victoria.
The first lighthouse on Canada's west coast is still in operation! Fisgard Lighthouse is one of Canada's National Historic Sites. There hasn't been a keeper here since the light was automated in 1929, but every year many thousands of visitors step inside a real 19th century lighthouse and capture some of the feeling of ships wrecked and lives saved.
Built in 1860, Fisgard's red brick house and white tower has stood faithfully at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour, marking home base for local mariners.
Inside the building are two floors of exhibits, dealing with shipwrecks, storms, far-flung lights and the every day working equipment of the light keeper a century ago.
The waterfront sites at Fisgard Lighthouse and Fort Rodd Hill are extremely photogenic, especially with the scenic backdrop of the Olympic Mountains in neighbouring Washington state.
The Straight of Juan de Fuca almost always has a ship passing by, from small sailing vessels, to enormous cargo ships, and the proximity of the Canadian Navy base means that military craft of several nations can often be seen at close range.
For all the information on Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, including details on operating hours, programs, and other visitor information, the official Parks Canada website is: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill
The surrounding lands and ocean are an important part of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations homelands. Known as the Lekwungen people, they believe the ocean is sacred to all living creatures in the water and on land. Their ancestors have carved this place since time immemorial. It connects their past, present, and future. Today, they continue to preserve and care for the land, the ocean and their history. Read more about First Nations in Colwood.