Looking for things to do in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick? Consider doing our scavenger hunt to walk the city first! You’ll see the Convention Center, Parliament, City Hall, Science East, and much more.
Discover not only the unavoidable tourist attractions but also the peculiarities of what locals call their home. Solve challenges at each stage of your journey. During this time, you will also be exposed to the city’s history.
- Science East
- Fredericton Museum
- New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
- Beaverbrook Art Gallery
- Christ Church Cathedral
- Officer’s Square
- Old Government House
- Wilmot Park
- John River
- Westmorland Bridge
- Riverfront Trail
- Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market
- and much more
We visited Fredericton and tested this scavenger hunt in August 2018.
- Starting point: in front of the Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrooke 659 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C3
- Distance: 4 km / 2.1 mi
- Duration: 1:30 depending on your walking and problem-solving speed.
- Methode: Walking
- Required:
- Fully charged smartphone with internet access
- Suggested:
- Bottled water
- Local map
Ancient History
Fredericton is the capital of the province of New Brunswick on the Saint John River. It has a population of 105,000.
Archaeological settlements have been excavated in the area dating back 12,000 years. First Nations Maliseet operated farms here along the Saint John River until the 19th century. Their village Aucpaque was a few miles north of where Fredericton is right now.
The first colonizers were the French at the end of the 17th century. Joseph Robineau de Billebon was the first governor of Acadia (here) in 1690 and established Fort Nashwaak on the north side of the river. The fort was abandoned in 1700 after a large flood.
In 1732, other Acadians arrived to establish a village (Pointe Sainte-Anne) south of the river, fleeing the English who had taken Nova Scotia in 1710. By cons, in 1762 the British captured and burned the village, then expelled the Acadians during the seven-year war (1756-1763). In 1783, loyalist Americans were relocated here after the American Revolution (1765-1783).
In 1784, St. Anne’s Point became the capital of New Brunswick, a British province newly separated from Nova Scotia. It has become the capital instead of Saint John because it is further from the US border, making it safer.
His name was changed to Frederick’s Town, then Fredericton in 1785, in honor of the 2nd son of King George III, Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York.
Recent History
The first Legislative Assembly of 1788 burned up in a fire in 1880. 2 years later it was rebuilt and remains active until today.
The city amalgamated the village of Devon in 1945, then other villages in 1973.
