Mount Royal Cross

Mount Royal Cross

Daytime image (pre-renovation)
45°30′32″N73°35′16″W
Location	Mount Royal
Material	steel
Width	11 metres (36 ft)
Height	31.4 metres (103 ft)
Beginning date	May 16, 1924
Completion date	Mid-September 1924

TheMount Royal Crossis a monument on top ofMount RoyalinMontreal,Quebec,Canada.It stands at the northeastern peak of the mountain and overlooks the eastern part of theIsland of Montreal.

History

Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve,founder ofFort Ville-Marie,erected the firstcrosson Mount Royal in 1643, thereby fulfilling his vow to theVirgin Maryin his prayers to end a disastrous flood.

An illuminated cross was installed in 1924 by theSociété Saint-Jean-Baptisteand was given to the city in 1929. The city assumed responsibility for maintenance and operation of the cross since then, but there is no documentation supporting the transaction prior to June 2004, when theMontreal City Councilapproved cessation of the monument.

The city also took advantage of this to perform additional work to improve access to the site and install new park furniture. The renovation costCan$2 million, paid by the City and the Ministère de la culture, des communications et de la condition féminine.

The cross is made ofsteeland consists of 1,830 pieces joined by 6,000 rivets weighing 26 tons. It is 31.4 metres tall, its arms span 11 metres, and it stands 252 metres above theSt. Lawrence River.Following the latest renovation, it is lit by 158 18-LED bulbs.

While the cross is usually lit in white, the LED system allows it to be any colour, including the purple traditionally used between the death and election of a newPope.Before the installation of the fibre-optic lighting, the purple illumination was accomplished by changing all the light bulbs. It is now controlled by computer. On various occasions, the cross has been turned red for AIDS awareness and blue forSaint-Jean-Baptiste Day.Theresignation of Pope Benedict XVIpresented a bit of a dilemma for how the cross would be lit; it was later announced that the cross would be lit in white during the interregnum preceding the election ofPope Francison March 13, 2013.

On March 28, 2009, it was turned off for an hour to markEarth Hour.

It is a common misconception that by law, no buildings in Montreal are to be taller than the Mount Royal Cross. However, this is incorrect as it is the height ofMount Royalitself that municipal regulations prohibit buildings from exceeding.

Time capsule

Next to the cross, a plaque marks the emplacement of a time capsule buried in 1992, during Montreal's 350th birthday celebration. It contains messages and drawings from 12,000 children, depicting their visions for the city in the year 2142, when it is scheduled to be opened.