| La Coupe Dry Dock National Historic Site | |
|---|---|
 La Coupe Dry Dock in 2025 | |
 Interactive map of La Coupe Dry Dock National Historic Site | |
| Location | Point de Bute, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Built | Early 18th century (traditional attribution) |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
La Coupe Dry Dock National Historic Site is a designated cultural heritage site located near Point de Bute, New Brunswick. It consists of two large earthen berms on the La Coupe River that have long been associated with Acadian settlement in the region. Early 20th-century tradition identified the structure as an Acadian dry dock built prior to the Expulsion of the Acadians, though its original purpose remains uncertain.
Modern historians note that no archaeological investigation has confirmed the site’s function. In a 2025 interview with CBC News, historian James Upham emphasized that while local knowledge long described the feature as a dry dock, “we really don’t know what this was,” and the surviving earthworks provide only limited clues. [1]
The site was designated for its association with Acadian history rather than for a confirmed industrial function. If a dry dock had existed at the location, it would have represented a very early example of this technology in North America. Dry docks were essential for maintaining wooden vessels, which required regular cleaning to remove marine growth and prevent damage from shipworms.