Photograph of the construction of the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. In the centre is the Victoria Tower in the course of construction. In the foreground are wooden huts and building materials. Snow covers some of the ground.

In 1860, King Edward VII when Prince of Wales laid the cornerstone to the new Parliament Buildings on Barrack Hill, Ottawa. However, construction was halted until bedrock was blasted out to accomodate the buildings foundations. Construction resumed in 1863 and was finally completed in 1876. In February 1916, the centre block was destroyed by fire but was quickly rebuilt. The corner stone for the new building was laid by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught in September of the same year. Following the fire, the Victoria Tower was replaced with the Peace Tower to commemorate the end of the First World War. This photograph may have been taken to mark King Edward VII when Prince of Wales visit to Canada and the United States in 1860.