An independent copy of the Canadian Register of Historic Places

Every place Canada chose to remember.

For twenty years, Canada's governments listed the places they formally recognize in one national register. When Parks Canada announced it would switch the register off, we saved all 13,554 entries so anyone can still read them.

A map of Canada drawn entirely from points, one for each recognized historic place

From the register

Four ways in

Browse the map, follow a theme, see what's near you, or search for something specific.

Explore the map

Every recognized place on one map, from Signal Hill to the Klondike.

Open the map

Browse collections

217 collections, from Gothic Revival churches and covered bridges to fur trade posts and buildings that moved.

See the collections

Search the register

Look up a place by name, town or type.

Why this site exists

The register was due to go offline in spring 2026.

Since 2004 the Canadian Register of Historic Places has gathered the places that federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments formally recognize: 13,554 entries, each with an account of why the place matters.

In December 2025, Parks Canada told the provinces and territories that the register would be taken down in spring 2026, calling it "technologically obsolete with security vulnerabilities and outdated coding". Partners were told any replacement would cover only federally designated places, a fraction of the whole. The old site is still online for now; Parks Canada's own page warns its information may be out of date.

Behind every entry is a congregation, a town council or a neighbour who pushed to have a church, a mill, a main street or a lighthouse recognized. Heritage Guide keeps that work in public view: every description word for word, every place on a map, and the whole register searchable.

NoticeCanadian Register of Historic Places

“Technologically obsolete with security vulnerabilities and outdated coding.”

Parks Canada, as reported by CBC News, January 2026

Every description: kept word for word, as the governments that recognized each place wrote it
Every place: on one map, with its town, province and photographs
Independent: not affiliated with Parks Canada or any government

In the news“Parks Canada planned to delete a heritage website — but one proud Canadian hit ‘Save’”CBC News, January 31, 2026

Browse by type of place

Illustrations of each type, not pictures of particular places. Each opens its collection.

historic places: 13,554historic places
cities, towns and villages: 2,587cities, towns and villages
collections: 217collections
provinces and territories: 13provinces and territories

Descriptions and photographs from the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as captured in January 2026. Heritage Guide is independent and not affiliated with Parks Canada.