Morrin Centre, Quebec City (must see)

One of the most famous cultural landmarks in Quebec City, the Morrin Centre is dedicated to educating the public about the history of English-speaking Quebec and showcasing the present-day culture of local English speakers.

Here you will find the private English-language library of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, located on the premises since 1868, and comprising over 20,000 books, a small collection of archives, manuscripts, films and videos, electronic records, nearly 800 artifacts, plus the Stephens collection of decorative items and tea-ware related to the English families of Quebec City.

The centre is found in a former prison building – Quebec City Common Gaol – which operated from 1814 to 1861. The property was sold to Doctor Joseph Morrin in 1868, who turned it into a college for young English speakers, designed by architect Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy, which served in this capacity until 1902. The heritage building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981.

Visitors to the Morrin Centre can take a guided tour of the building (in either English or French) during which they can see the dark dank cells where prisoners spent their sentences for crimes ranging from drunkenness to murder to stealing tea! There is also an original darkroom that may be the world's oldest in existence.

Any place that can boast of having been a prison, a college, and a library, is well worth visiting and guarantees time well spent. Here, apart from jails, you can learn a little bit more about Quebec history, too.