Niagara Heritage Guide

The Niagara Historical Society & Museum was founded in 1895 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 by 1906 to start the construction of Memorial Hall. Memorial Hall was the first building in Ontario designed solely for the use as an historical Museum. It was built to remember the United Empire Loyalists who founded Niagara starting in the 1780s.

The Niagara Historical Society & Museum houses one of the finest collections of early Canadian artifacts and archives. Visitors today are treated with one of the most extensive collections, reflecting the history of one of the oldest settlements in Ontario. A Census conducted by Col. John Butler records 84 settlers along the western side of the Niagara River in 1782, by 1785, 800 inhabitants of Irish, Scottish, English, German and Dutch descent are found in Niagara.

Today the Museum is open 7 days a week. The Museum features a gallery dedicated to 10,000 years of the town's history, a War of 1812 gallery, the Carnochan gallery and a temporary exhibition gallery. Call the Museum for details of exhibitions and events or check out our website.

Researchers please call ahead to book an appointment.

Niagara Historical Society & Museum

43 Castlereagh Street
P.O. Box 208
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Phone: 905-468-3912
Fax: 905-468-1728

May ~ October: Open 10:00 ~ 5:00 daily
November ~ April: Open 1:00 ~ 5:00 daily

Clickhere for a map to the Niagara Historical Society & Museum

Visit the Museum's own website