TrinityOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

From Seasonal Fishing to a Trade Hub

Trinity's history begins in the 16th century when Portuguese, French, and English fishermen used its natural harbor seasonally for the migratory fishery. The town was named by Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real, who arrived on Trinity Sunday in either 1500 or 1501. English fishermen from the West Country began using Trinity as a summer station in the 1570s. By the end of the 17th century, merchants started leaving their gear and fish in Trinity Bay over the winter. The harbor's defensibility encouraged some, like the White family, to settle.

In the 18th century, merchants from Poole, England, established Trinity as a center for the Newfoundland fishery. These firms controlled trade, supplying local fishermen with goods in exchange for dried cod. The best quality cod was traded in European markets for luxury goods, while lower quality cod was used to feed enslaved people on British Caribbean sugar plantations. By the 1720s, Trinity had about 30 permanent families and hosted 200-300 seasonal fishermen annually. Its location made it a target during conflicts, with the French attacking in 1696 and 1705, burning properties, and occupying the area again in 1762 during the Seven Years' War. Trinity's economy expanded in the 19th century beyond fishing to include shipbuilding, lumbering, and coopering, with the population reaching over 800 people by 1869.

A Legacy of Innovation and Preservation

Trinity was a site of early legal and medical innovation in North America. Sir Richard Whitbourne held the first Admiralty Court in North America in Trinity in 1615. In 1798, Rev. Dr. John Clinch, a missionary and physician, introduced the smallpox vaccine to the New World while serving in Trinity. The town's importance began to decline in the mid-19th century as major firms shifted their direct overseas trade to commercial links with St. John's. However, Trinity has since become a living museum, with many of its original buildings preserved. The town was incorporated in 1969, and in 1993, a regulated Trinity Historic Area was established to protect its cultural landscape, which features a high ratio of heritage buildings, structures, and streetscapes.

• —Lester-Garland House — This brick house, built in the 1820s, was home to a merchant family. It shows Trinity's mercantile era and is now a museum about the town's commercial past.
• —Holy Trinity Church (1729) — One of the earliest parochial churches in Newfoundland, its construction began in 1729. The current structure, consecrated in 1827, housed Rev. Aubrey Spencer, who later became the first Church of England bishop of the diocese of Newfoundland and Bermuda.
• —Green Family Forge — This working blacksmith shop dates back to the 18th century and shows a traditional trade that was important to the community.
• —Trinity Harbour Wharf — The harbor is a central part of Trinity's story, once claimed to be large enough to hold the entire British Navy. It has been a center for fishing and trade since the early 16th century.
• —Courthouse, Gaol, and General Building — Built in 1903, this structure reflects Trinity's legal and civic history. It originally housed the courtroom, magistrate's offices, a jail, and the postal-telegraph office.
• —Fort Point — The remains of Fort Point, built to protect the harbor, serve as a reminder of Trinity's role in defending the colony, especially during French attacks in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The best time to visit Trinity is from mid-June to late September. The weather is at its best, and all hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and historic sites are open. July has wildflowers in bloom. This is also the prime season for whale watching.

May can offer opportunities to see icebergs, but the weather can be brisk, and some establishments might not yet be open. Fall, from October to December, offers cooler weather and fewer crowds, with the possibility of snow in December, but many tourist businesses begin to close. Winter is quiet, with many attractions closed.

Trinity is on the Bonavista Peninsula, about 259 kilometers (2.5 to 3 hours) by car from St. John's. From St. John's, take the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1) west to Clarenville, then Route 230 (Bonavista Peninsula Highway) for about 50 minutes, before turning right onto Route 239, which leads into Trinity. There are two places named Trinity in Newfoundland; ensure you are heading to the one on the Bonavista Peninsula.

In Trinity, the historic area is compact, and most sites are within walking distance. The town's network of roads and lanes is suitable for walking. Parking is generally available, though specific details for lots are not widely published, suggesting street parking or designated areas at attractions. Public transportation within Trinity is limited, so walking is the primary way to get around the historic core. For exploring the wider Bonavista Peninsula, a car is necessary.