There is so much to see in Trinity on the Bonavista Peninsula, that we have divided it into three pages. Trinity is home to two historic wooden churches that you’ll want to visit.
The best way to see Trinity is on foot. Plan on spending the better part of a day in town. When you drive into Trinity, go to your left towards the Rising Tide Theatre. There is a large parking area. It’s not far from the green house that serves as a welcome centre. This is where you can pick up maps for a self-guided tour. The Merchant area is just down the street from the visitor centre.
As a merchant town, Trinity has a significantly different history than the outport communities around the island. Trinity was a comparably wealthy community.
Lester – Garland Premises
Benjamin Lester came to Newfoundland in 1737 at the age of 13. From the 1780’s, Lester became the wealthiest merchant in the trade between Newfoundland and England.
George Garland was Lester’s son-in-law. He took over the company when Lester died in 1802. At the time it was one of most important firms in Newfoundland. Garland was able to multiply the Lester fortune several times. The business was bought by the Ryan brothers from Bonavista in 1906 and operated until 1952.
The home lets you see how the wealthy lived in Newfoundland as the fish trade grew. The merchant building includes a store and the accounting room for the business that had a large reach across Newfoundland.
To read more about the Lester – Garland Premises, click here.
The Cooperage
The Cooperage is a replica building based on historical records. Coopers or barrel makers were a very important trade. Craftsmen show you how barrels were made. The Cooperage is also a gift shop.
Green Family Forge
The Forge or Blacksmith Shop was another important trade in Trinity. The Forge is an operating shop and you can buy several items made right there.
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