This historic park includes the stone foundation of DeCew House (1808), used as a detachment headquarters by the British Army during the War of 1812, and the First Nations Peace Monument (2017) that recognizes the Crown's alliances with Indigenous nations.

The accessible pathway joining these two important historic sites was a gift from The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation.

It provides a literal and metaphorical reminder of the link between the cultures of Indigenous peoples and settlers who live on this land. It is also a small but important incremental step in rendering the DeCew House Heritage Park site accessible to all.

Decew House was the destination of Laura Secord's epic 1813 trek to warn British leadership of an impending American attack. The ensuing Battle of Beaver Dams was a decisive engagement in which Indigenous forces secured the surrender of more than 500 American troops, changing the course of history.

The events that transpired in this area were shaped by early relations established between the Crown and Indigenous nations during the 18th century. The wampum motifs inscribed on the stone walls of the First Nations Peace Monument serve as an indelible reminder of the importance of these pledges, and as inspiration to achieve our national mandate of Truth and Reconciliation.