A vibrant seaside capital city, Charlottetown takes pride in its past while carrying forward the tradition of hospitality that Prince Edward Island province is noted for. The centrally planned downtown is lined with Victorian-era houses and buildings, and the spires of St. Dunstan's Basilica tower above the skyline. Picturesque Queen Street and Victoria Row are home to historic shops as well as the Confederation Centre of the Arts, a showcase of the best in Canadian visual and performing arts. Museums of interest include Beaconsfield Historic House – one of the first residences in the city – and the Anne of Green Gables Museum. Charlottetown is the birthplace not only of the classic book’s author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, but also of the Confederation of Canada. It was here that delegates first convened in 1864 to discuss the unification of the British North American colonies.
