Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Miramichi (Canada). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: St. Michael's Basilica, Centennial Bridge, and Beaverbrook House. Also, be sure to include Morrissy Bridge in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Miramichi (New Brunswick).
Table of Contents
St. Michael's Basilica
Basilica in Canada. The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, is located on a hill overlooking the Miramichi River in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is the dominant feature of the former Town of Chatham, New Brunswick and one of the largest churches in Eastern Canada. It is now included within the City of Miramichi that was formed in 1995.[1]
Address: 10 Howard St, E1N 0C4 Miramichi
Centennial Bridge
Bridge in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Centennial Bridge is a steel through arch crossing the Miramichi River in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. The bridge is 1.1 km long, and 240 feet high. It carries Route 11, Route 8, and Route 134 over the river, connecting Douglastown on the north bank with Chatham on the south bank; both communities were merged with others in the vicinity through municipal amalgamation into the city of Miramichi.
The bridge was opened in 1967, Canada's centennial year. It replaced a ferry service (Romeo & Juliet) which operated between downtown Chatham and Ferry Road. Upon the bridge's opening, Romeo & Juliet was moved to service a new route across Kennebecasis Bay between Summerville and Millidgeville near Saint John.
Bridges of similar construction in eastern Canada include the Seal Island Bridge, the Burton Bridge, and the Laviolette Bridge over the St. Lawrence River in Trois-Rivières.[2]
Beaverbrook House
Specialty museum, Museum
Address: 518 King George Highway, E1V 1N1 Miramichi
Morrissy Bridge
Truss bridge in New Brunswick. The Morrissy Bridge is a steel truss bridge crossing the Miramichi River at Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.
Construction of Morrissy bridge began in 1913 and was completed and opened in November 1914. Named after Hon. John Morrissy, the Minister of Public Works, it was hailed as "one of the greatest structures in the province", and provided the first fixed road link between the former town of Newcastle and communities on the south side of the river. The bridge created a new obstacle for navigation, but a swing span in the bridge allowed large vessels to pass.
The Morrissy Bridge was badly damaged on 5 November 1971 when the Panamanian registered Liberty Ship Grand Valor struck the second pier of the bridge while departing the Newcastle Wharf with a load of pulpwood. Several heavy trusses were knocked out and the swing span was moved off its bearing pad. Repairs took three weeks and the vessel was arrested and later released.
The swing span is no longer used, and the narrow deck of the bridge is now viewed as substandard. The new Miramichi Bridge completed in 1995 provides a wider, safer crossing only 1 km upstream. It has created a newer, permanent obstacle to upstream navigation.
In 2008 the New Brunswick Department of Transportation carried out a detailed structural analysis and concluded that the bridge's steel deck supports had corroded to the point where the bridge was no longer safe for use. The Morrissy Bridge was closed permanently because of safety concerns Friday 12 September 2008. The bridge was to be dismantled, and not be replaced.
A coalition of trails enthusiasts opposed the demolition; and in 2010, the Miramichi Active Transportation Master Plan included the structure in its long range plan, stating: "The Morrissy Bridge is the vital cog in the Miramichi AT Plan. Much like the old train bridge in Fredericton, the Morrissy Bridge is the only really safe option for non-motorists to cross the river. The bridge's site also provides a key connection to downtown commerce and to Ritchie Wharf. Restoration of the bridge for trail users should be the number one priority of the AT Plan."[3]
Ritchie Wharf Park
Piers and boardwalks
Address: off Ledden Street, Miramichi
French Fort Cove
The French Fort Cove is a nature park located in Miramichi, New Brunswick, between Newcastle and Nordin-Miramichi, which contains regular and advanced walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, ice-cream shop and holds many events and activities during the summer. It is the location of a former rock quarry which was used to build many buildings and the Langevin Block of Parliament Hill, among others.[4]
Chatham
City in New Brunswick, Canada. Chatham is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.
Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown. Since amalgamation, it has been sometimes referred to as Miramichi East.[5]