GEORGE-ETIENNE Cartier (1814–73) was a Father of Confederation and one of the most important French-Canadian politicians of his day.

This national historic site comprises two adjoining graystone houses owned by the Cartiers on the eastern edge of the old town. One is dedicated to Cartier’s career as a lawyer, politician, and railroad-builder.

In this house, you can sit at a round table and listen in either French or English to a very good summary of the political founding of modern Canada. The second house focuses on the Cartiers’ domestic life and the functioning of a Victorian upper middleclass family.

Visitors can wander through formal rooms full of rich furniture and listen to snatches of taped conversation from ‘‘servants’’ talking about their lives.