A National Historic Site of Canada, the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse - built in 1909 - is the third to be built on the site, the second tallest in Canada and has played a primary role in the history of navigation on the St. Lawrence River. In 1861, shipping companies sailing regularly between North America and Europe, chose Pointe-au-Père as the exclusive embarkation point for pilots boarding steamships. Since the 17th century, this "Great River of Canada" was always known to be a complex one to maneuver. Local experts who knew the terrain far better than occasional mariners took the helm of vessels that ventured here to ensure the voyage went smoothly. Climb to the top and take in views of the St. Lawrence, explore exhibits in the lightkeeper's house, step inside the Onondaga (the only submarine open to the public in the country), and visit the Empress of Ireland Museum, which commemorates the tragedy off this part of the coast with a large exhibit of artifacts rescued from the wreck. Pointe-au-Père is a lovely place with exhibition spaces that help explain the development of sound signals and provide insights into the world of underwater archaeology.