Golden Jubilee Graffito

Golden Jubilee graffito. Longinus Balo (Atlas Obscura User)

Descending the stairs from Victoria Park in Elora, Ontario, you are welcomed onto the river bottom with a number of trails and breathtaking views of the Elora Gorge and the eye-catching David St. Bridge. Among the many wonderful sites that the gorge has to offer is a not-so-obvious and mysterious graffito.

Easily missed, but well worth looking for, the inscription is at the bottom of the stairs into the gorge, about 50 feet along the trail next to the escarpment. It reads “Archie Scott Queen’s Jubilee June-21-87.” This graffito has not only been expertly carved into the rock with a chisel, but is also of historic significance.

June 21, 1887, marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, in particular, her service at Westminster Abbey, celebrating her 50-year rule as the monarch of the United Kingdom. It was marked by a banquet of 50 European kings and princes, and the minting of a double Florin coin. A Denby Dale pie was even created to mark the occasion. Victoria would go on to rule for another 14 years, her reign ultimately spanning from 1837 to 1901. The popularity of Queen Victoria was such that her birthday—May 24—is still celebrated as a holiday in Canada.

It is unclear who Archie Scott was. A Wallace Archibald “Archie” Scott is recorded as having resided in the area of Elora from 1884 to 1966. This, however, would have made Archie just 3 years old in 1887. Perhaps a family member chose his name as a commemoration, or perhaps an entirely different Archie Scott took the opportunity to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign.

The town of Elora, and its gorge in particular, has been a perennial touristic draw for generations in southern Ontario ever since its founding in 1832. As such, it is possible that an individual from any number of surrounding regions could have taken it upon themselves to inscribe this dedicatory graffito to the ruler of the British empire. Regardless of who left behind this curious mark, it remains a unique dedication to one of Britain’s most beloved rulers.

Know Before You Go

Victoria Park and the Elora Gorge form part of the larger Elora area. Locals shops and restaurants are within walking distance of the gorge. For the adventurous, there are also opportunities to zipline across the gorge as well as tube down through gorge. For those who prefer to be in nature, the Elora Gorge campground is a 5-minute drive away. Further afield there is the Wellington County Museum and Archives and the town of Fergus (4 miles ways), a tourist draw in its own right. Parking is permitted on surrounding city streets. Restrooms are available in Victoria Park. No admission fee. The stairs into the gorge are open seasonally, being closed in the winter and during severe weather.