Heritage is not just about the past. It is about the places, spaces and stories that we value today and saving and preserving them for tomorrow. Many city residents are proud of their long standing cultural history here in Welland, whether it be rural or urban.

Heritage is a big part of what makes our community unique. It fosters local identity and pride. Our well-maintained heritage streetscapes and landscapes contribute to safe and comfortable communities and enhance the quality of our lives. Adaptive reuse of heritage resources is good for the environment and the economy.

Downtown Welland's history is tied to the Welland Canal, initially a small settlement named Aqueduct for a wooden aqueduct over the Welland River, then Merrittville, and finally Welland in 1858. Its growth accelerated with the canal, railways, and hydroelectric power, attracting industry and immigrants to become a major industrial hub. While the city later gained nicknames like "Rose City" for its flower cultivation and "Where Rails and Water Meet," its industrial past defines its early development. 

Welland's downtown Bridge 13 (the Main Street Bridge) was built between 1927 and 1930 as part of the fourth Welland Canal project and is a unique, angled vertical lift bridge. It was the most expensive bridge on the canal and the only link between Welland's east and west downtowns. The Dominion Bridge Company constructed the bridge, with Mohawk ironworkers completing the high steel work. After the canal section closed in 1972, the bridge was permanently lowered, but it was rehabilitated with LED lighting in 2015, becoming a distinct landmark that is still used for vehicular traffic and a popular tourist spot. 

For historic photos of Welland, including downtown, check out this link: https://www.welland.ca/Heritage/pdfs/ReminiscingAboutWelland.pdf