Cape Bonavista — Matthew's Secret Manifest

Your adventure begins in front of the Statue of John Cabot, erected in the 1960s to commemorate his claimed landing at Cape Bonavista in 1497. This statue, depicting Cabot on his ship's bow and overlooking Bonavista's harbor, was installed by the local historical society amidst debates on his exact North American landfall. It is here that the initial puzzles will guide you towards the Matthew Legacy Site, where the replica of Cabot's ship awaits.

Continue your exploration to the Matthew Legacy Site, where the full-scale replica of the Matthew, John Cabot's 1497 caravel, is docked. Launched in 1996 from Bonavista, this 24m long, Bermuda-rigged replica, built with period-correct construction techniques, sailed transatlantic in 1997, retracing Cabot's route. It commemorates his claimed first European sighting of North America and provides an ideal setting to decipher the navigation secrets of the era before heading towards the lighthouse.

Your journey then takes you to the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, one of Newfoundland's earliest purpose-built lighthouses, first lit on October 11, 1843. This 70-foot (21m) tapered tower, constructed of cut granite blocks, became a National Historic Site in 1968. Converted to electricity in 1962, its automated operations ceased resident keepers. The lighthouse offers stunning views of Bonavista Harbour and helps you understand the importance of navigation aids for sailors in the region.

Along the way, you will discover St. Philip's Anglican Church, built between 1864 and 1865, and consecrated the same year as the Parish Church of St. Philip the Apostle. Its Gothic Revival architecture, with a stone nave and a tower added in 1892, survived the 1912 fire that destroyed much of Bonavista's commercial district. Its registers, dating to 1785, document the history of early English settlers and fishing families, offering a glimpse into Bonavista's community life. Nearby, the Old Bonavista Cemetery, established circa 1770s, holds the oldest marked grave from 1793, belonging to the merchant John Slade family. This cemetery, used continuously until the Ryan Premises cemetery opened in the 1890s, overlooks Bonavista Harbour and contains 19th-century gravestones of Newfoundland fishing captains and their crews. These sites are silent witnesses to Bonavista's past, designated as part of the Bonavista Cultural History District.

Finally, your investigation leads you to the Ryan Premises National Historic Site, designated as such in 1990. The original buildings, constructed in the 1870s by James Ryan & Co. as saltfish premises, span 2 hectares. This complex, including salt sheds, flakes, and the manager's residence, preserves 19th-century Labrador fishery operations central to the Bonavista economy. It is here, at the heart of this Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Site, that you will assemble the final pieces of "Matthew's Secret Manifest," revealing the connections between exploration and the commercial development of this historic region.