Hamilton Photo Gallery - Downtown

Central Elementary School opened in 1853 as Hamilton's only public school, accommodating 1000 students. The school's creation is credited to Egerton Ryerson, the province's chief superintendent of education. He was the founder of the public school system to offer free education, funded by property taxes.

The Whitehern Historic House was the McQuesten family's home between 1852 and 1968, which incorporates elements from Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras.

St. Paul's Presbyterian Church was established in 1833. What we see today was built in the 1850s to replace the original facility with grey stone from locl quarries.

So far during my walk, I haven't felt safe as the neighbourhood is full of homeless and crazy folks wandering the streets and camped out at parking lots. Nevertheless, there seems to be gentrification under way.

Over 32,000 students study at McMaster University's 6 faculties.

The Lister Block was a reconstruction after a 1923 winter fire by J. Edmund Lister, the son of of Joseph Lister who built the original building. When the first building came up, James Street in front of it was not desirable as the neighbouring John Street was vying to be Hamilton's business street. By the 1990s, downtown was in decline and demolition threats rose, but luckily it was restored instead and repurposed as the city government's offices.

I then continued down James Street all the way to the lake.

Next to the West Harbour GO station is the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, which was previously Custom House. The Italianate building was inspired by Renaissance palaces in Italy and was a popular style in Canada from the 1840s-70s. Completed in 1860, the Customs Department used it to manage trade through Hamilton's port until 1887, after which it was used as a school, homeless shelter, vinegar factory, and more.