A life-size bronze statue of the famous Canadian author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, resides in the heart of a park in her honor in her hometown on Prince Eduard Island. Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) arrived in Cavendish as a toddler to live with her grandparents after her mother passed away. As a child living with the elderly, she spent many hours reading, writing and creating imaginary friends. When she was 16 years old, she published her first poem in the local newspaper, and by 23, she started publishing short stories in newspapers and magazines, reaching more than 100 publications in a decade. At 18, she attended Prince of Wales College for her teaching license, then Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to study literature, and worked as a teacher between both. At 24, she returned to Cavendish to support her widowed grandmother and work on her first novel Anne of Green Gables. Published in June 1908, the book was an instant best-seller, translated to over 36 languages, and adapted into dozens of movies, TV series, films, radio, stage, and web production, establishing Montgomery as a novelist and putting Prince Eduard Island on the world map. At 37, she married a Presbyterian minister and left Prince Eduard Island for Ontario. While raising her family, she continued writing and publishing. Overall, she published 20 novels, 500 poems, 530 short stories, and 30 essays during her lifetime. At 67, she passed away. Her final resting place is in the Cavendish Cemetery on Prince Edward Island (directly across the park). In 2019 the Cavendish Heritage Park was renamed Montgomery Park to commemorate Montgomery and celebrate the Founding Families of Cavendish and the Avonlea Women’s Institute. The Prince Eduard Island artist Grace Curtis designed the statue in 2019; it was sculptured and cast by British Columbia artist Nathan Scott. The statue, called A Glimpse of Beauty, depicts Montgomery in her late 20s when she lived in Cavendish and wrote Anne of Green Gables. It captures her in a moment of inspiration, or as she called this creative moment- “the Flash.” “Inspired by the beauty of nature, she lifts her head heavenward to take a deep breath, to take it all in; in part, a moment of joy, and in part, an acknowledgment of the gift of creativity she has been given” – Grace Curtis. The statue was unveiled on August 28th, 2019, by Montgomery’s granddaughter and in the presence of Princess Takamado of Japan. The park is the recommended first stop of The Inspiring World of L.M. Montgomery Literary Tour, which leads visitors to other L.M. Montgomery experiences, including Green Gables House and the new Green Gables Visitor Centre. Read more...

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was a Canadian author who wrote the famous book Anne of Green Gables, inspired by the places and people from her life on Prince Eduard Island (PEI). Montgomery lived in PEI with her grandparents since she was nearly two years old until they passed away, and she married Ewen Macdonald, a Presbyterian minister, in 1911. Since she was a child, she wrote poems and short stories, publishing them in local newspapers and magazines. In 1908, she published her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, featuring the orphan Anne Shirley, adopted by the elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert and come to live on their farm on PEI. The novel describes Anne’s life with the Cuthberts, within the community, in school, and with her friends. It became a phenomenal success and made Montgomery and Canada’s smallest province worldwide famous. Montgomery published 20 novels, 500 poems, 530 short stories, and 30 essays during her lifetime. In 1942, she passed away and was buried in Cavendish Cemetery. The Anne of Green Gables Museum resides in a historic farmhouse built in 1872 by the Author’s Aunt Annie and Uncle John Campbell. Montgomery wrote about her memories of this house and its surrounding in her novels, and the museum displays them. The collection includes Montgomery’s memorabilia, photographs, personal items, and artifacts that appeared in her books, such as Anne’s Enchanted Bookcase, Crazy Patchwork Quilt, and the Blue Chest from The Story Girl. Do not miss a visit to the Campbells Pond, which Montgomery referred to as the Lake of Shining Waters. Also in the museum is a large gift shop with many Anne’s related souvenirs and an option to enjoy a scenic ride with Matthew on Matthew’s Carriage Rides. The Inspiring World of L.M. Montgomery Literary Tour is a self-guided tour with 16 locations related to Montgomery on the island, including this museum. There are also stops at Montgomery Park, where her sculpture resides, the Confederation Centre of the Arts, where the Anne of Green Gables – The Musical is presented, the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island, and many more. Read more...

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was a Canadian author best known for her Anne of Green Gables novel series. Montgomery was born in a rural one-and-one-half-story cottage in Clifton, Prince Edward Island. When she was 21 months old, her mother died, and her father sold the house and sent her to live with her maternal grandparents in nearby Cavendish. At nine, Montgomery started to write poetry, publishing her first poem at the age of 16, and by 23, her short stories were published regularly in various magazines and newspapers. In 1908, at 34, she published her first novel and her most known work, Anne of Green Gables, inspired by her childhood experiences on Prince Edward Island. The book’s success established her as a renowned author, and throughout her life, she published 500 poems, 530 short stories, 30 essays, and 20 novels, 9 of which are part of the Anne of Green Gables series. Her childhood house switched several ownerships over the years, and in 1964, the current owner, K.C. Irving, gifted it to the Province of Prince Edward Island. A year later, the L.M. Montgomery Act passed to preserve and operate the site. Today, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Birthplace is a tourist attraction that celebrates her legacy and offers a glimpse into her life. The 19th-century house has retained most of its original architectural features and appliances, including an organ and a Franklin stove. A collection of Montgomery memorabilia is on display, including her personal scrapbooks containing copies of her poems and stories, original shoes, and a replica of her wedding dress. The gift shop offers numerous books written by and about her and other gifts and souvenirs related to her and her work. Read more...