From forts and early settlements that date back to the 1800s to engineering marvels that were ahead of their time. A nation's multicultural heritage lives in grand mansions, restored pioneer villages and festivals that let you experience firsthand what life was like when Ontario was taking its first steps.Fort William Historical Park
Head to Thunder Bay and prepare to barter at Fort William Historical Park - the world's largest reconstructed fur trade post. Set aside some time to explore more than 42 buildings on site. Get a firsthand look at the 1815 business practices of the North West Trading Company, meet friendly fur traders, voyageurs and aboriginals, go on a historic canoe ride and experience an adventure in the fur trade.
Fort William Historical Park
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Explore a Canadian national treasure and Ontario's first European settlement. Follow in the footsteps of 17th century French missionaries to the village known as Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. Learn how they lived as they attempted to convert the Huron nation and the tragic results that turned the Jesuits into martyrs.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
War of 1812 Forts
The rousing call of the fife and drum and the crackle of musket fire. The unmistakable smell of gunpowder in the air as historic battles are staged right before your eyes. Relive the struggles of the time when Canada's existence as a nation hung in the balance at Toronto's Fort York, Niagara-on-the-Lake's Fort George and Old Fort Erie, Kingston's Fort Henry, Amherstburg's Fort Malden and Fort St. Joseph on scenic St. Joseph island.
Fort York
Fort George
Fort Erie
Fort Henry
Fort Malden
Fort St. Joseph
Upper Canada Village
You'll feel like you just stepped out of a time machine as you watch early life in Canada come alive in authentic detail in Morrisburg. Visit tradesmen, taverns and farms. Watch wool being spun and woven in a woolen mill. See flour being stone-ground in a gristmill. Take home a memento from the village gift shop. Experience life in Upper Canada as it was a century and a half ago.
Upper Canada Village
Mennonites
For a true taste of Mennonite life spend a day in the Mennonite region of Kitchener-Waterloo. Poke around the charming village of St. Jacobs. Bite into a crisp apple or sample home-baked goodies purchased at farmers' markets where the vendors still arrive by horse and buggy. Admire the meticulous handiwork in Mennonite quilts and other local crafts.
Mennonite Country
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Walk through the home of Rev. Josiah Henson and be inspired by the man whose experiences in freeing slaves inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's acclaimed novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Learn how the Reverend escaped to Canada and established a settlement near Dresden where former slaves could start a new life in freedom.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Festival franco-ontarien
Join in the Ottawa festival that grew from the historic French St. Jean-Baptiste Festival into a five-day extravaganza celebrating the pride and joie de vivre of Ontario's French-speaking residents. Relish in the exhilarating music, performing arts, street entertainers and loads of family fun.
Joie de vivre en Ottawa - Festival franco-ontarien
Castles
Give yourself the royal treatment at both of Ontario's famed castles. In Toronto, Casa Loma, a magnificent stone mansion built by financier Henry Pellat in 1911, will captivate you with its majestic opulence. Head westward to Hamilton's Dundurn Castle completed in 1835 to indulge in an extensive "upstairs-downstairs" tour and be impressed by the splendid décor and the surprisingly up-to-date appointments that were provided for the staff.
Casa Loma
Dundurn Castle
Heritage homes and estates
Tour through a heritage home and feel the presence of historic figures. Visit the boyhood home of former prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King at Woodside in Kitchener. Stop by the Gravenhurst manse that was the birthplace of Norman Bethune, a medical hero in China. Or set foot in Parkwood Estate and Gardens - the magnificent mansion built by the man who founded General Motors of Canada.
Heritage Homes
Ontario Heritage Foundation
Toronto neighbourhoods
With its diverse, distinct neighbourhoods, the city of Toronto is the perfect passport when you want to get a taste of the world. Spend the morning absorbing the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Enjoy an afternoon latte while relaxing at a sidewalk café in Little Italy. Share a souvlaki or some sweet baklava on the Danforth in Greektown. Savour a peameal bacon sandwich in one of the world's finest markets. Participate in celebratory festivals and enjoy the incredible mosaic of cuisine and cultures.
Toronto Neighbourhoods |
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Did you know?
The Ontario Heritage Foundation provides a handy online plaque guide to locate and learn about over 1200 historical plaques across the province.
Resources
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