Fort Rodd Hill is a National Historic Site and the area gives us a feel for how the West Coast was protected in the time of war. Built in the late 1890s, it was an artillery fort intended to provide defense for the Esquimalt Naval Base and the city of Victoria.

The small red building with a small boat in front of it is actually a search light. It was amazing to look inside and see this huge light there and yet the building is designed as a small bait house. The fort is shown peeking out on top of the hill as most of it is underground for protection.

Photo by Gail Dougherty