English: Fortress Louisbourg is North America's largest reconstructed historical site.

In 1961 the Government of Canada started a $25 million dollar reconstruction project, rebuilding approximately a quarter of the original town and fortifications. The buildings, yards, gardens and streets were recreated as they were in the 1740s, immediately before Louisbourg's first siege.

The work at Louisbourg required lots of research. Archaeological excavation yielded millions of artifacts as well as the ruins of fortifications and buildings. Some 750,000 pages of documents and 500 maps and plans were copied from archives in France, England, Scotland, the United States and Canada.

The reconstruction of Louisbourg is massive in size, covering 12 acres. The 60+ reconstructed buildings represent only 20% of the original Louisbourg. The reconstruction was aided by unemployed coal miners from Cape Breton, many of them learned French masonry techniques from the 18th century and other skills to create an accurate replica.

Archaeologists continue to excavate and do research in many parts of the fortifications.