Pilot Monument

Pilot Monument, Yellowknife, N.W.T., Canada is a popular viewpoint to visit when in the community of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The Pilot Monument is located high up on "The Rock" in Old Town (a historical section of Yellowknife) surrounded by history, islands, boats, floatplanes and water.

From the Pilot Monument viewing deck travelers enjoy views of Great Slave Lake, Back Bay, Yellowknife Bay, Old Town Yellowknife, Jolliffe Island and Frame Lake. Off the coast of Jolliffe Island and Back Bay there are colorful houseboats, sailboats and floatplanes.

The Pilot Monument attraction is dedicated to the bush pilots and engineers whos lives were lost as they flew the skies of the Northwest Territories during the 1920s and 30s. The Bush Pilots transported supplies and people to remote villages, mining camps and oil operations. The engineers mapped out rivers, lakes and mountain passages.

The Pilot Monument sits on "The Rock". The massive rock outcropping has always been a landmark since the beginning days of Yellowknife. When flat land was hard to come by, every rocky corner of Old Town was occupied with either a tent, shack or building. The water tanks supplying fresh water to Old Town use to be stored up on "The Rock". Today, "The Rock" is the site of one of Yellowknife's most popular sightseeing attractions.

To access the lookout there is a series of stairs. The wooden stairs lead travelers to the top of "The Rock" were there is a lookout, a monument, sitting benches and interpretive signs. In 1999 a plaque was created to better honour all the cultures who played a part in the emergence of the Northwest Territories. It is from the viewpoint that travelers will enjoy a 360 degree view of the Yellowknife and Great Slave Lake region.

Jolliffe Island during the 1940s was a village in itself. There were once homes, a general store, a lumber yard and an oil tank supply depot operating on the island. The fuel depot stored the oil and gas that heated the community of Yellowknife. The island is named after a geologist who worked in the area named Fred Jolliffe. Much of the gold deposits of the Con' Mine were from the survey work of Mr. Jolliffe.

Explore & Visit Pilot Monument, Yellowknife, N.W.T., (Northwest Territories) Canada