Signal Hill , St . John ' s Signal Hill is a hill which overlooks the city of St . John ' s , Newfoundland and Labrador , Canada . Due to its strategic placement overlooking the harbour , fortifications have been placed on the hill since the mid 17th century . History . The final battle of the Seven Years War in North America was fought in 1762 at the Battle of Signal Hill , in which the French surrendered St . John ' s to the British under the command of Lt . Colonel William Amherst . Lt . Colonel Amherst renamed what was then known as " The Lookout " as " Signal Hill , " because of the signalling that took place upon its summit from its flagmast . Flag communication between land and sea would take place there from the 17th century until 1960 . During Signal Hill ' s first construction period in the late 18th century , Signal Hill was designated as the citadel for St . John ' s . Other Canadian citadels include Citadel Hill in Halifax , Fort Henry in Kingston and Citadelle in Quebec City . During the 19th century , Signal Hill was manned specifically during the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War . A second construction period in Signal Hill ' s history saw the construction of the Queen ' s Battery Barracks , which has been completely restored to the period of 1862 . Construction on Cabot Tower began in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria ' s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and the 400th anniversary of John Cabot ' s landfall in 1497 . The building was declared officially open in 1900 . The practical uses of the building were flag mast signalling , and a Marconi wireless station which has since been moved to St . John ' s International Airport . On 12 December 1901 , the first transatlantic wireless transmission was received here by Guglielmo Marconi in an abandoned fever and Diphtheria hospital , which has since been destroyed by fire . The transmission , in Morse code , originated from his Poldhu Wireless Station , Cornwall , UK . The United States maintained anti - aircraft guns on the hill during World War II . Signal Hill National Historic Site . Today , Signal Hill is a National Historic Site of Canada . Due to high winds in winter ( which can reach up to ) it is generally preferred to visit Signal Hill in the warmer months of the year . Signal Hill Tattoo . The Signal Hill Tattoo showcases the Royal Newfoundland Regiment of Foot . Wearing full military uniforms circa 1795 , the soldiers give a military concert by the Regimental fifes and drums , and demonstrate the musket , drills , and battle formations of the time . The Artillery provide an exhibition of cannon fire . The ceremony occurs on specific days in the summer . Activities . Cabot Tower , located at the top of the hill , features exhibits about Guglielmo Marconi and the wireless station that operated in the tower . There is a gift shop , and an amateur radio station VO1AA , which may be operated by visiting amateur radio operators in the summer months . It is sponsored by the Society Of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs . There is also an active amateur radio repeater , VO1AAA 146 . 790 + , which is located inside the building and can be used year round . The visitor centre features interactive exhibits and a film about the site ' s military and communications history , and the history of St . John ' s . The North Head Trail grants an impressive view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding coast . The Lookout Trail features interpretive panels about the site ' s history . Other features . Some distance down the hill is located the Johnson Geo Centre , a geology museum . A tourist information radio station , CJSH - FM , broadcasts from the Signal Hill site .