Prince Rupert Sunken Gardens 3.2

Prince Rupert's Sunken Gardens are tucked behind the Courthouse building. The Sunken Gardens are especially worth a visit in the spring and summer months, when the flowers are in bloom. The site that is now home to the Sunken Gardens was originally planned to be the location of the Courthouse. The foundation was laid down but construction was halted due to the outbreak of World War I. After the war, a new political party was elected to govern British Columbia and updated construction plans called for the building to be moved closer to McBride Street and 2nd Avenue West. Construction of the Courthouse resumed 35 feet in front of the original foundation. During World War II, the American military used the aborted foundation as an ammunition storage site. They constructed tunnels on either side for easy access, keeping the supply secret by coving it with a tarp. Once the war was over, the excavated site was transformed into the vibrant garden that it is today.