“Far From Uninteresting”: Getting to Know the St. Lawrence River at Montreal During the Construction of the Victoria Bridge

Abstract

In northern cities like Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the winters are long, and the construction season is condensed. In the mid-nineteenth century, knowing the St. Lawrence River’s seasonal variations and local construction customs helped railway and bridge builders save time and frustration during the very short working seasons. In this article, I investigate how technical and quasi-technical communications generated during the construction of the Victoria Bridge (1854–1860) are a rich source of urban knowledge. By examining visual and textual evidence in The Construction of the Great Victoria Bridge in Canada, I demonstrate how representations of the construction process are a tangible medium through which practical experience and a personal way of knowing the urban landscape are mediated. I argue that everyday experience and tacit knowledge move between social worlds and inform how audiences know and understand the colonial city.