Pete’s Historic Walking Tour

Saint John’s story comes alive through its small details: a mass of molten metal left by the Great Fire, carved stone heads on an old bank, a mural about Irish immigration, and the spot where Loyalists landed in 1783. Pete Ferguson brings those details together with local stories from a lifetime in the city and 35 years running Pete’s Pub.

I like the personal viewpoint and the clever use of copied rare photographs. I also like the practical route, which covers major sights without demanding a hard climb. The main consideration is time. This is a talk-heavy 2.5-hour walk, so anyone wanting a quick overview or lots of market shopping may find it longer than expected.

Key points to know before you book

• Pete Ferguson is the main attraction: He is a longtime Saint John resident, former pub owner, and lively local storyteller who knows many people around town.
• The tour covers Saint John from 1783 to today: You get Loyalist settlement, the Great Fire, immigration, industry, theatre, banking, and the modern cruise waterfront.
• The walking is generally easy: The route uses pedestrian ways, escalators, and an elevator in places, helping avoid some of Saint John’s steeper hills.
• Rare photographs add useful context: Copies of old images help you compare past buildings, streets, and events with what you see now.
• The group is limited to 20 people: That gives Pete a better chance to answer questions and keep his voice clear.
• The pace favors explanation over shopping: You stop often to listen, with only a short opportunity to browse inside the City Market.

What Pete’s Saint John tour is really about

This is not a checklist tour built around one famous monument. Saint John’s appeal comes from layers of smaller sights, and Pete spends time explaining how they connect.

You begin near Duke Street and Water Street, then work through the central streets, public squares, churches, old commercial buildings, and waterfront. The route covers about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Morning and afternoon departures make it easier to fit around a cruise call or a day in town.

Pete’s style is direct and personal. His stories include the city’s public events, old businesses, sports, entertainment, and his own experience owning Pete’s Pub. He also uses humor, answers questions during the walk, and is willing to research a question if he does not have the answer immediately.

That personal touch matters in a city where many of the best stories are tied to people and businesses rather than grand monuments. You will hear about famous visitors, local characters, old clubs, industrial families, and the ways Saint John changed after fire and immigration.

The tour is offered in English. The maximum group size is 20, and the price is $33.80 per person. For a 2.5-hour guided walk with a local host and no separate entry fees, that is a fair price, especially if you want background you would not get from a quick stroll alone.

Water Street and the first taste of local life

The opening stop is on Water Street near Furlongs liquor store, on the way toward Market Square. This is a modest beginning, but it sets the tone. Pete uses an ordinary storefront as a way into the city’s everyday story.

You are not simply being led from one postcard view to another. The tour pays attention to the working city, its businesses, and the local connections Pete has built over decades. Because the stop lasts about 10 minutes, you should expect a short talk rather than a long visit inside the store.

This first section also helps you get oriented. Saint John’s central streets can feel compact but layered, with waterfront areas, older commercial blocks, and upper streets connected by slopes and pedestrian routes.

Market Square, Loyalist landing, and the Great Fire

Market Square is one of the most important history stops. From outside, Pete points out where the Loyalist Landing took place in 1783. He also explains where the Great Fire of Saint John began and identifies the place connected with the Prince Charles and Lady Diana walkabout.

Those events span different periods of the city’s past, and Pete uses the square to show how Saint John developed from a Loyalist settlement into a major regional port. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so you get a focused explanation rather than a long museum visit.

Inside Market Square, Pete shows the Marco Polo sailing ship model. The model opens the door to Saint John’s maritime story and the famous vessel connected with the city. It is a good example of the tour’s approach: a small object provides a link to a much larger subject.

Here is one practical point. The Market Square portion is mainly about looking and listening. You get only limited time to browse shops and displays. If shopping is high on your list, plan to return later, particularly if you are in town on a Sunday when market hours may be limited.

City Hall and the story of Pete’s Pub

At Saint John City Hall, the focus shifts from public history to Pete’s own connection with the city. He tells the story of Pete’s Pub, which he owned, along with memories from 35 years in the business.

This stop is valuable because it gives you a feel for Saint John beyond dates and architecture. Stories about sports, entertainment, and regular life help explain how the city’s social world works. Pete’s background also explains why he can greet people by name as he walks through town.

The stop takes about 15 minutes. If you prefer a guide who sticks only to formal historical facts, this personal section may feel less essential. If you enjoy local color and stories about how a place actually functions, it is one of the tour’s more distinctive parts.

Saint John City Market and Charlotte Street murals

The City Market is the oldest continuously operating market in Canada, and Pete explains both its architectural features and its history. The stop is brief, about 10 minutes, with a few extra minutes for shopping.

Look up as well as around. The building itself is part of the lesson, and Pete points out features that are easy to miss when you are focused on food stalls or merchandise. Still, do not count on a leisurely market visit during the tour. The main purpose is interpretation, not shopping.

After the market, the walk reaches Charlotte Street. Down an alley, Pete points out large murals featuring famous Saint John people. This is the kind of detail you could easily miss on your own, particularly if you are following the main shopping streets.

The murals add a modern layer to the tour. After hearing about Loyalists, fires, shipping, and old institutions, you see how Saint John chooses to remember its people today.

King’s Square and the city’s industrial story

King’s Square is one of the fuller stops, even though the walking time is short. Pete points out the main features of this park, which was established in 1785.

You will see a mass of molten metal left by the Great Fire, the William Young statue, the Charles Gorman statue, and the King Edward VII Bandstand. Together, these features show how the square functions as an open-air record of the city.

The molten metal is especially effective because it makes the Great Fire tangible. Instead of hearing only about destruction in the abstract, you see a physical remnant of the heat and damage.

Across from King’s Square on King Square South Street is the Irving Oil headquarters. Pete explains the Irving family’s role in New Brunswick, beginning with K. C. Irving in 1899. This provides a useful bridge from older maritime commerce to the modern industrial economy.

The Irving stop lasts about five minutes, so expect a concise explanation. You will not tour the office. The value is in understanding how one family became part of the province’s business story.

Imperial Theatre and the Admiral Beatty building

The Imperial Theatre offers a change of pace. Pete traces its history back to its opening as a vaudeville theatre in 1913, then points out details such as the chandeliers and other decorative features.

The theatre’s story helps you picture the entertainment world of an earlier Saint John. Pete also discusses restoration and the building’s role in the city’s cultural life. The stop is about 10 minutes.

Next door, the Admiral Beatty building is explained as a former luxury hotel dating from 1925. Pete notes famous visitors, including Amelia Earhart before her transatlantic flight.

This is one of the tour’s more appealing combinations: a theatre and a hotel, both tied to the city’s earlier ambitions and visitors. You see how Saint John once presented itself as an important stop for performers, business people, and prominent figures.

Trinity Church and the Loyalist past

Trinity Church is given about 15 minutes, making it one of the more substantial stops. Pete describes the church’s Loyalist background, architectural features, and four main artifacts held inside.

The church gives the 1783 story a physical setting. Earlier, you heard about the landing. Here, you get a better sense of the institutions Loyalists built after arriving. The stop works best for people who enjoy connecting buildings with the political and religious life of a young settlement.

Because the tour includes frequent standing stops, comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing will help. There may be opportunities to sit during parts of the walk, but you should be prepared to stand and listen several times.

Germain Street, the Union Club, and preservation

After Trinity Church, the route continues along Germain Street, named for Lord George Germain. Pete explains his connection to the street and points out the Union Club directly across from the church.

The Union Club dates to 1884 and was a business club. Its story adds another angle to Saint John’s past, showing how merchants and business leaders organized themselves in the city’s prosperous years.

At Germain and Princess Streets, Pete points out a newer building designed to conform to preservation standards. This is a useful lesson in how an old city can add new construction without ignoring its older streetscape.

Beside it is the historic Ritchie building. Pete explains its features and uses the corner to show how old and new architecture can sit together. You do not need to be an architecture specialist to appreciate the point. The stop makes preservation visible in a practical way.

Prince William Street, once called the Wall Street of Canada

The walk heads downhill on Princess Street toward Prince William Street. Pete then points out the important buildings and features along a street once known as the Wall Street of Canada.

This section is packed with names and details:

• Chubb’s Corner and its carved stone heads
• Old City Hall
• The old post office
• The Jarvis building
• The Bank of New Brunswick Palatine building
• The Seamen’s Mission
• A mural about Partridge Island

The concentration of banks and offices shows how important finance and shipping once were to Saint John. The carved stone heads at Chubb’s Corner add a touch of personality to what could otherwise seem like a formal commercial district.

The Partridge Island mural is one of the most moving stops. It depicts the island’s history and its role in immigration and quarantine. Pete pays special attention to the Irish immigrants affected by the Potato Famine.

This section is also where the city’s geography becomes more noticeable. The route goes downhill, but the tour can use the pedestrian walkway system, escalators, and an elevator to avoid a tiring climb. The exact route can vary with weather and conditions, so ask Pete if you have mobility concerns.

The Three Sisters Lamp and the waterfront finish

At the foot of Prince William Street, the tour reaches the Three Sisters Lamp in St. Patrick Park. Pete explains why the lamps have that name and how they helped save lives.

It is a short stop, about five minutes, but it connects the city’s streets with the dangers of its waterfront and harbor. Details like this help explain how people navigated Saint John before modern systems made travel and shipping easier.

The route then finishes at the Marco Polo cruise terminal and Area 506 Waterfront Container Village, where Pete discusses the city’s cruise industry and how it began.

This is a useful ending for anyone arriving by ship. You finish with a clearer sense of how the modern waterfront fits into Saint John’s older port identity. If you are visiting on a cruise, the location is also convenient for continuing your day.

The provided meeting information lists Duke Street and Water Street as the starting point and says the activity ends back at the meeting point, while the route description identifies the cruise terminal and Area 506 as the finish. Confirm the exact end point when booking, especially if you have a tight ship schedule.

Pace, hills, weather, and group size

The walking itself is usually manageable. The route includes frequent stops, and the pedestrian system can reduce the effect of Saint John’s hills. One wheelchair user was accommodated, and the tour is described as accessible, but conditions can vary by route and weather, so share your needs before setting out.

You should expect more standing than continuous walking. Pete talks at nearly every stop, and the tour’s strength is the amount of explanation. That also creates its main weakness. If you prefer to keep moving, take photographs, or spend more time inside the market, 2.5 hours may feel long.

Pete projects his voice clearly, and a group of up to 20 is still small enough for questions and conversation. Morning and afternoon times give you useful flexibility. The tour requires good weather, and a poor-weather cancellation brings either another date or a full refund.

Service animals are allowed, pet dogs are welcome, and special-needs children are free. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this walk if you like local history, personal stories, architecture, and the feel of a real city rather than a short list of major attractions.

It suits:

• First-time visitors who want to understand Saint John’s layout
• Cruise passengers looking for a guided introduction near the port
• History-minded visitors interested in Loyalists, immigration, fire, shipping, and industry
• People who prefer an easy walk with frequent stops
• Families with children who can listen for longer stretches
• Anyone who enjoys a guide with humor and strong local connections

I would think twice if your main goal is shopping, visiting interiors at length, or covering a large part of the wider city. This is an uptown walking tour, not a full Saint John sightseeing circuit. The emphasis is on stories told from the street, with limited time inside individual attractions.

Is Pete’s Historic Walking Tour worth $33.80?

For $33.80, I see solid value. You get 2.5 hours with a local guide, a carefully arranged route, visual aids, and no additional admission fees at the listed stops. The price is especially reasonable if you would otherwise walk past the murals, carved stone heads, old business buildings, and waterfront landmarks without knowing their stories.

The value depends on your preferred pace. Pete gives you a lot of information, and his own memories are a major part of the experience. That makes the tour warm and distinctive, but it also means you spend plenty of time listening.

Should you book Pete’s Historic Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Saint John explained by someone who has spent his life there. Pete Ferguson’s local connections, pub stories, humor, and strong command of the city’s past give the walk a human feel. Wear comfortable shoes, allow the full 2.5 hours, and save time after the tour if you want to shop at the City Market.

Skip it if you want a fast photo walk or a mostly self-guided visit. For everyone else, this is a practical first look at Saint John, with enough detail to make the city’s streets, fires, churches, businesses, and waterfront feel connected.

FAQ

How long is Pete’s Historic Walking Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $33.80 per person.

Where does the tour start?

The listed starting point is the intersection of Duke Street and Water Street in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Where does the tour finish?

The route description finishes at the Marco Polo cruise terminal and Area 506 Waterfront Container Village. The meeting information also says the activity ends back at the meeting point, so confirm the exact end location before booking.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

What time of day can I take the tour?

Morning and afternoon departure times are available.

How large is the tour group?

The tour has a maximum of 20 participants.

Is the walking difficult?

The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness, but the route is generally described as an easy walk. Pedestrian ways, escalators, and an elevator may be used to avoid some steep hills.

Are dogs allowed?

Pet dogs are welcome, and service animals are allowed.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.