For centuries, Signal Hill has dominated both the skyline of St. John's, Newfoundland, and the hearts and minds of its residents. The Lookout traces the hill's remarkable history as a military site and communications centre, with special attention to its most famous building, the former signalling station Cabot Tower.

Conceived in 1897 as an expression of Newfoundland nationalism, the tower's meaning would change drastically over the years. Those changes, however, were always in step with broader currents in Newfoundland society. Signal Hill was the site of the first attempted transatlantic wireless transmission by Marconi in 1901. It has also been the site of defenses for St. John's Harbour from the eighteenth century right up to the Second World War.

Signal Hill is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in eastern Canada.

Finalist for the Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing

James E. Candow is from Gander, NL, and is a graduate of both Memorial and Dalhousie universities. He has written numerous articles, book chapters, and reviews and is the author of five books, including Cantwells’ Way: A Natural History of the Cape Spear Lightstation and The Lookout: A History of Signal Hill, which was shortlisted for the Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing. He lives in Dartmouth, NS.

James E. Candow's profile page

• Short-listed, The Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing

The Lookout

by curlyjo2