Keys to History

The ice palace, built in Dominion Square for the winter carnival, attracted many Montrealers and tourists, especially on the last night of the festivities.

That evening, at about eight o'clock, hundreds of snowshoers surrounded the palace. Inside, a troop prepared to defend it. On a signal, the snowshoers, armed with fireworks, advanced on the ice palace. For an hour, the spectacle of the simulated attack continued under a hail of fireworks, much to the delight of the onlookers. Once the snowshoers finally entered the palace, they regrouped and began a torch-lit march to the summit of Mount Royal.

The winter carnival was an occasion for many of the city's sports clubs to engage in a variety of competitions: toboggan races, snowshoe obstacle courses, lacrosse on skates, and other games were featured during several days of fun.