Museums & Interpretive Centres

In Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls Historical Museum will enthrall, and don't forget the Battle Ground Hotel Museum and the Willoughby Historical Museum. Further along the river are the Fort Erie Museums and Old Fort Erie. Shipping buffs will love the fascinating story of the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum. Coming back into the peninsula, you can visit the Welland Historical Museum, and from there, find your way to the Niagara-on-the-Lake and Queenston area where Canada's story continues to unfold amid glorious scenery. The Weir collection at RiverBrink houses historic Canadian and international artworks and you can also visit the heritage sites operated by the Niagara Parks Commission: the Mackenzie Heritage Printery, Laura Secord Homestead, and McFarland House. Don't forget Fort George, Niagara Apothecary and Niagara Historical Society & Museum. St. Catharines offers magnificent viewing of ships passing through the Welland Canals, as well as a taste of the past at St. Catharines Museum. Sports buffs will enjoy Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum, housed in the same facility. Further west in Niagara, be sure to visit the stunning natural site of Balls Falls Conservation Area. Close by, Pennsylvania German Mennonite culture is represented at the Town of Lincoln's Jordan Historical Museum, and further west still is the Grimsby Museum. Each museum represents a completely different chapter of Niagara's history, as varied and absorbing as only Niagara can be. Come visit our museums, and experience Niagara's rich heritage.

From the elevated viewing platform at Lock 3, get a close-up look at ships from around the world and experience the wonder of the Welland Canal. Inside, watch the 15 minute video presentation Welland Canals Past and Present and learn more about the four Welland Canals in the St. Catharines Museum exhibits and education programs. The Museum chronicles the industrial, cultural and social history of the area with an emphasis on the Welland Canal. Experience the rich legacy of Niagara's African Canadians in the integrated Follow the North Star exhibit.  The role that St. Catharines played in the Underground Railroad is the main theme of the exhibit. Learn about Canada's oldest sport in the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum. Visit Merritt's Mercantile - the Museum Gift Shop for unique gifts and souvenirs.

The Grimsby Museum was established in 1984 to serve the community as an integral part of the cultural life of Grimsby and the surrounding area. This facility includes exhibition galleries which interpret the history of the Town including the area's prehistory, the settlement of "The Forty" by United Empire Loyalists in 1787, the growth and development of Grimsby and the history of Grimsby Park - "The Chautauqua of Canada". 

In December 1895 the Niagara Historical Society was formed with the objective to encourage the study of Canadian     history and literature, to collect and preserve Canadian historical records and relics, and to build Canadian loyalty and patriotism. Under the determined and devoted leadership of Janet Carnochan, sufficient funds were gathered to build Memorial Hall which opened on June 4, 1907, making it the first building in Ontario designed solely for use as an historical museum. The Museum outgrew the space of Memorial Hall and, after World War I, expanded into the old Niagara High School next door.  The link building connecting the two areas was completed in 1973. The Niagara Historical Society & Museum (NHS&M) is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and is home to one of the finest collections of early Canadian artefacts and archives. The Museum’s permanent exhibition, “Our Story”, chronicles the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake from its earliest inhabitants to the present day.  Memorial Hall holds two temporary exhibitions each year that showcase the Museum’s unparalleled collection and celebrate the history of one of the oldest settlements in Ontario.  Through research, publications, exhibitions, lectures and programs, this NHS&M strives to preserve the rich heritage of its community for future generations.

Take a step back into time to explore and discover original artifacts from the war of 1812 at the Lundy's Lane Historical Museum. The war of 1812 between the United States of America and Britain played an important role in shaping the look and makeup of the City of Niagara Falls. The museum provides information surrounding some of the most significant battles that took place during the war of 1812. The battles include the Battle of Chippawa, The Battle of Lundy's Lane, and The Battle at Queenston.  Not only does the museum cater to showcasing artifacts and paintings from some of the most brutal battles from the war of 1812, but you can also see historic prints of Niagara Falls, a world class collection of Niagara Falls souvenir china and postcards in the museum's gift shop. At this museum you can experience what life was like in the city of Niagara Falls long before the days of technology, and get an interactive interpretation of how the city has evolved and has come to be one of the most popular tourism destinations in Canada. The Lundy's Lane historical museum is also active within the local community, as they provide guided tours of other areas in Niagara Falls that share a history of the war of 1812. These include the Battleground Hotel and Museum and the Drummond Hill Cemetery.

From this modest homestead in what is now known as Queenston, Laura Ingersoll Secord made her famous 32 kilometre (20 mile) trek to DeCew House in Thorold to warn the British of an oncoming blitz from the American militia.  

The Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation, which opened in 2008, features interactive exhibits and learning centres that showcase the natural and cultural history of the Niagara Escarpment. Environmental exhibits highlight the human impact on nature, as well as watershed management and conservation programs of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The Centre’s event programming will both inspire and enable visitors to become stewards for natural and cultural resources.

Functioned as an apothecary from 1820 to 1964.  Features Victorian Architecture; restored to look circa 1869.

Step back in time and try your hand at setting type and working one of eight operating presses. Qualified staff provide guided tours, and there are interesting demonstrations and opportunities to "try it yourself". Working hot metal typecasters will cast type before your eyes. You will be visiting Canada's largest working printing museum. The restored Mackenzie House, a gift from friends and supporters of William Lyon Mackenzie when he retired from the provincial legislature in 1858, became a historic site museum in 1950 and is home, since 1967, to a recreated 19th-century printing shop. You can see "over 500 years of printing technology, amid the authentic ambiance of a period print shop." William Lyon Mackenzie was the great grandfather of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. Perhaps better known as the first mayor of Toronto and the leader of the Rebellion of 1837, Mackenzie was also the publisher of the Colonial Advocate newspaper from 1824 to 1834 and one of Canada's earliest printers. The paper was based in this house here in Queenston, Upper Canada, and was fond of critiquing the Family Compact, the informal name of the Conservative elite who controlled Upper Canada at that time.

"Our purpose at the museum is to collect, preserve, research, and exhibit and interpret artifacts and archival records, along with their associated information relative to the history of St. Catharines and the Welland Canals for the education and enjoyment of the public."French Services A number of the Museum services are available in French including tours when a French guide is available.  They include the Welland Canals video, informational brochures, and a selection of retail items at Merrit's Merchantile the Museum Shop at Lock 3.Welland Canals - Past and Present This is a 26 minute video detailing the history of the 4 Welland Canals.  It can be viewed as part of your Museum fee or if you do not have time to visit the Museum, you can view the video for $1.00 entrance fee.  It can also be ordered by calling 1-800-305-5134 ext. 235. The cost of $20.00 CAN includes all taxes and shipping and handling anywhere in Canada or the U.S. The  St. Catharines Museum is located in the Welland Canals Centre at Lock 3 where you can witness ships entering and maneuvering through the lock system from the unique elevated observation platform.  Watch massive freighters from around the globe bypass the great Niagara Falls by climbing the Niagara Escarpment on a stairway of water.  From Lake Ontario to Lake Erie ships are lifted or lowered to a height of 326 feet through 7 locks the equivalent height of Niagara Falls itself! "This is a very special place for people to encounter history and learn about St. Catharines, and the Canal then and now - a major link in the St. Lawrence Seaway System."

Morningstar Mill is a fully restored nineteenth-century gristmill, and the only operating water powered mill in the Niagara Peninsula.  It has been restored to working order by a dedicated nonprofit group called the Friends of the Morningstar Mill.  It is the only water powered operating mill in the Niagara Peninsula and was one of the first milling operations in Canada to be powered by a water-powered turbine instead of a traditional waterwheel.  The Miller's House is also fully restored, with a 1920s cottage garden, and a nearby Blacksmith's Shop recreated to circa 1905.

Overlooking the Twenty Mile Creek Valley, the museum sits on picturesque grounds. Visit our 1859 stone school house which was lovingly restored to the Edwardian period c.1908. Opposite the school house sits a true architectural gem, the 1815 Fry family house. The house is based on medieval German architecture and is believed to be the oldest of its type in Canada. The grounds of the museum also include a giant cider press which was constructed by Samuel Fry, a reproduction Conestoga wagon and a restored horse drawn mail wagon which was used to deliver local mail right up until1952. The Heritage House contains exhibits featuring local area history, as well as a Fraktur gallery showcasing traditional Pennsylvania German folk art. We also have an extensive research library including a large local genealogy section. Through the year we offer a multitude of workshops, lectures and special events including our popular annual Pioneer Day! This event is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, on the grounds of the Jordan Historical Museum and includes heritage arts and craft demonstrations, traditional Mennonite foods, children’s activities, music and dancing and much more! For a spookier event, join us at the end of October for our annual Jordan Village Haunted Tour! If you dare…but don’t wait too long, it always sells out. 

Celebrating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in Niagara. The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council welcomes you to share Niagara’s history as it comes alive. Come re-enact the battles; trek with Laura Secord; lament Brock’s death; hail Perry’s victory; sail the Lakes; play lacrosse; dance at the Governor’s ball; sing “Hail Columbia;” and then build an enduring peace of the ashes of the War. The Bicentennial of the War of 1812 celebrates a 200 year legacy of friendship and peace between Canada and the United States. Many celebrations and commemorations are taking place in Niagara. Activities have already begun and will continue through the Bicentennial in 2012 to 2014. This is a tremendous opportunity to share our history and celebrate our historic local heroes.

Located downtown at 280 King St., the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum & Heritage Village features a century of heritage buildings, historic gardens, pathways, covered pavilion, and a tea room. The 1861 Georgian-Revival style Williams Home serves as the main exhibit gal lery, interpreting the history of Port Colborne and the Welland Canal through a variety of ever-changing exhibits. The Heritage Village includes a log schoolhouse, the Sherk-Troup log home, FW Woods & Sons Blacksmith Shop, a carriage house, and Arabella’s Tea Room. The wheel house from the Yvon Dupre tugboat, a lifeboat from the SS Hochelaga and the Marine Exhibit Lighthouse form a small marine park within the Museum’s Heritage Village. Canada’s Century Car, the 1901 Neff Steam Buggy, built by Benton Neff in the Neff Foundry in Humberstone, now part of Port Colborne, is on exhibit in the Museum’s Heritage Resource Cen tre. From May to December, see the new replica of the Neff Steam Buggy in the Carriage House and on display at special events. Arabella’s Tea Room serves afternoon tea with hot homemade tea biscuits in a 1915 Edward ian Cottage. Open daily from 2 to 4pm, June to September. Christmas pudding is served during the first week of December. The Museum is host of many events, including Arabella’s Pie Social, History Fair & Antique Road Show, Canal Days at the Museum, and the Grand Old Christmas Festival. The L.R. Wilson Heritage Research Archives is a research facility open to all genealogists and researchers of the documentary history of Port Colborne, Humberstone, and the Welland Canal.

The Willoughby Historical Museum is located along the beautiful Niagara Parkway facing out towards the Niagara River. A short distance across the river, one can see the United States.  British-Canadian forces fought a violent battle against American troops during the war of 1812. The museum offers visitors a chance to see how the township of Whilloughby amalgamated with the Village of Chippawa and into the city of Niagara Falls.  This is shown through various historical pieces and interpretation in the museum dating as far back as the 1700s.  It was created as an expression of pride felt by the community during the festivities of Canada's centennial celebrations in 1967.  Exhibits in the museum include authentic historical and household artifacts, antique tools, handicrafts, and a display to commemorate the Battle of Chippawa.