Old Port's iconic Silo No. 5


Silo No. 5 was completed in four stages (1906, 1913, 1924 and 1958). Construction on Silo No. 5 was begun by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1903. In the late 19th century and for several decades thereafter, grain was the main export product transiting through the Port of Montreal. Competition from ports was strong, so the decision was made to equip Montreal’s with grain elevators and make it the world’s leading grain port by 1928. Silo No. 5 is the only extant example of the evolution of grain elevators in the 20th century. With the demolition of Silo No. 1 and Silo No. 2, it is now, along with the Old Port’s conveyor pier tower, the last vestige of Old Montreal’s 20th-century harbour panorama. Its heritage value has been recognized by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office. The silo, now owned by the Canada Lands Corporation, has stood abandoned since 1996, and is suffering from a lack of maintenance and zero public access.


Size: 5184px × 3888px
Location: 900 Mill St, Montreal, QC, Canada
Photo credit: © Mr. JF / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., 5, building, emblematic, hulking, montreal, monument, pointe-du-moulin, ports, silo