Erected in 1850, this structure provided a grand public hall in the St. Lawrence marketplace, then the centre of Toronto, for concerts, balls, meetings and other civic events. Seating a thousand, it was proudly regarded as one of the city's finest buildings. Here, Jenny Lind sang, the Anti-Slavery Society met, and George Brown addressed ardent Reform gatherings before Confederation. When the centre of the city shifted north and west in the 1870s, St. Lawrence Hall's great era ended.

Location

In the main foyer of the hall, 157 King Street East at Jarvis Street, Toronto

Themes

• Arts and culture
• Buildings and structures
• Politics and law