The goal of this LEED Silver laboratory is to create a fully sustainable, adaptable and multipurpose building. It uses a minimum of 25 per cent less energy due to its innovative technologies. Take a guided tour to learn how the City protects its drinking water. Visitors must be a minimum of 10+ years and wear closed-toe shoes.

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Enjoy a look around inside the Ancaster Old Township Hall. Built in 1871 by William H. Thuresson, it is one of the finest pieces of stone architecture in Ancaster – complete with original apron stage, hardwood floors, arched windows and historically accurate colours. It has undergone several renovations over the years but the original character remains.

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Founded in 1914, the Art Gallery of Hamilton is the oldest and largest art museum in southern Ontario; it has a permanent collection that is recognized as one of the finest in Canada. Embracing Canadian historical, international and contemporary art, the collection consists of more than 10,000 works – with something sure to inspire, intrigue, challenge and engage you.

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Auchmar was originally home to the Honourable Isaac Buchanan (a local businessman and politician). Throughout the years, Auchmar has also been home to the Young family (local entrepreneurs), the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Hungarian Sisters of Social Service. Enjoy this rare opportunity to explore the main floor of this manor house and the walled grounds surrounding it.

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Enjoy a guided tour of this 1796 Gage family homestead, learn about recent restoration work, and explore the 1926 Dunington-Grubb landscape. During the War of 1812, the family retreated to their cellar as the Battle of Stoney Creek raged outside. The Battlefield Monument’s architecture is steeped in British tradition and is an exceptional example of Tudor Gothic revival.

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Budget Demolition is located in the original building designed and built for The Kennametal Company. Several owners later, with the building in a state of disrepair, Budget Demolition purchased it and fully restored it for use as offices, demolition shop and architectural salvage warehouse. The original corner main front on Sherman Avenue was designed in an art deco style.

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Cable 14 is a community channel for Cogeco and Rogers television subscribers, serving the greater Hamilton area. Celebrating their 50th programming season in 2019, you are invited to attend a behind-the-scenes tour to see how television is made. Visit the control room, studio, edit suites and partake in interactive activities.

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Peek behind the scenes of CBC Hamilton’s trusted digital station. See how journalists gather and disseminate the news of the day in this repurposed former furniture store. The CBC team communicates with residents in a variety of interesting ways, including online and in-person. The building features exposed brick, hardwood floors, a tin ceiling and a restored façade.

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Christ’s Church Cathedral is built on the original site of the first Anglican church in Hamilton; it was founded in 1835 as a small wooden church. The congregation grew to require a larger stone building, which was constructed in 1852. Consecrated as a cathedral in 1875, the building houses exquisite creations in stained glass, woodwork and limestone.

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This church, constructed in the early Gothic revival style, was consecrated and opened on January 9, 1877. Today, it is a healthy, vibrant and caring parish with direct descendants of the original wardens still attending. Enjoy the view of their 21 beautiful stained-glass memorial windows. Complimentary refreshments and a historical handout will be provided.

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The Church of the Ascension is the second-oldest Anglican church in downtown Hamilton and was built in picturesque Gothic style. It was expanded after a destructive 1887 fire. The Holy Spirit Chapel was added in 1955. Recently, there was a major renovation of the interior. Come and hear the Royal Canadian College of Organists as they provide a live Bach-a-thon.

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As one of the largest coworking networks in southern Ontario, CoMotion seeks to inspire and be the future home of Hamilton’s, Ontario’s and Canada’s next generation of businesses. Visit the third floor of the building that was home to The Hamilton Spectator until 1976 and check out the remaining features repurposed into the space, including a vault and old dumbwaiter.

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The Cotton Factory, located in the heart of lower Hamilton, is a prime example of adaptive reuse. This former site of the Imperial Cotton Company has been transformed into a creative industries complex. Join one of their guided tours and explore over 35 artist studios, makers shops, galleries and a kids zone.

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The Lady Hamilton Club will be conducting downtown walking tours from the Tourism Hamilton Visitor Centre, located in the historical Lister Block. This building dates back to the 1850s when it was erected for Joseph Lister. Tours include King William Street, Hughson Street, Rebecca Street and James Street North. Tours will occur rain or shine. Dress appropriately.

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The Dundas Museum & Archives welcomes the public to tour the permanent galleries, the historical Doctor’s Office and the collections storage vault. Opened in 1956, this is a private, non-profit museum that collects, interprets and celebrates the unique identity of the Valley Town. On Saturday, handmade goods will be on sale at the “One of a Kind” market.

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Come and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plant! Learn how wastewater from your home is treated and restored back into the natural environment. Also offered is the Touch-a-Truck event. Get up close and personal with our field equipment and ask our experts questions. At noon, join us for a cake-cutting ceremony. Note: Closed-toe shoes required.

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Experience a self-guided visit of this Italianate-style villa built in 1834 for Sir Allan MacNab, one of Canada's first premiers. Experience what life upstairs and downstairs was like at this grand country estate. Enjoy hands-on activities led by costumed staff, explore the rarely opened Cockpit building and drop by the two-acre kitchen garden for some spring gardening tips.

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The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board Educational Archive and Heritage Centre opened in 1988 as a way of preserving, presenting and celebrating the history of education in the community – an effort that continues to this day. During Doors Open, visitors are welcome to tour the space, browse through yearbooks and see a unique collection of artifacts.

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The Erland Lee Museum is a beautiful Gothic revival home perched atop the Niagara Escarpment. The home was constructed in phases between 1808 and 1873 and was home to six generations of the Lee family. Erland Lee and his wife Janet are historically significant as co-founders of the first Women’s Institute in the world in 1897.

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Fieldcote was built as a private home. Today, it serves as a cultural heritage centre with emphasis on Ancaster’s local history, the promotion of fine arts and the celebration of natural heritage through beautiful landscaped gardens and walking trails. Discover the stories attached to 31 objects that showcase what makes Ancaster memorable while exploring the exhibit, Stories from the Edge.

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Furlan Conservation is a heritage conservation business located in an intact, early-20th-century commercial streetscape, housing small businesses created for newcomers attracted to the east-end steel mills. Take a guided tour of the studio and workshop to learn about the conservation of heritage windows, architectural paint analysis and reproduction of heritage elements.

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The former Gibson School – named in 1914 for Ontario’s 10th Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Morison Gibson – evolved from a one-room schoolhouse in 1854 on this site, S.S. No. 7, Barton Township. Tour the former school and see how it is being transformed into the Gibson School Lofts with residential loft rentals, retail and live/work units (opening in late 2019).

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Green Venture is the City of Hamilton’s lead agency to promote sustainable living ideas. During Doors Open, the Ecohouse will offer a variety of demonstrations inside the converted 1850s house and the surrounding gardens. Follow the posters and displays to learn more about the environmental and heritage elements of the Glen Manor property. A seedling sale will also be held.

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Explore this early-19th-century farm cabin that displays the simple architecture once so common in Upper Canada. Enerals Griffin, an African-American born in Virginia in 1790, journeyed to southern Ontario and established his family farm in the Dundas Valley. Exhibit panels celebrate both the Griffin family and local Black heritage. Paid parking available at the nearby Hermitage. Limited accessible-only parking onsite.

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The Hamilton Aviary was founded in 1927 and was originally located at Dundurn Castle until its 1996 relocation to the fieldhouse of the Royal Botanical Garden’s former teaching gardens. The Friends of the Aviary are the volunteer caretakers of the flock and will introduce you to Hamilton’s feathered citizens – each with their own personality, story and place in the city.

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Discover three interactive galleries – a ship for sailing, a dock for fishing, and a galley kitchen to feed your crew – and participate in an outdoor scavenger hunt for the whole family. Housed in an 1875 farmhouse in beautiful Gage Park, this museum was once home to the Gage family (early Hamilton settlers). Crafts will be available in the activity centre.

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This GO Centre is a rare example of an art moderne public building with curved forms, polished metals and machined detailing throughout. Retired staff operate the railway museum on the centre’s mezzanine level and share first-hand experiences of Hamilton’s railway history. Interpretative panels highlight the architecture and reconstruction of this landmark downtown building.

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Housed in Battery Lodge, the Hamilton Military Museum tells the story of the people who lived in the area during the War of 1812. There is something here for everyone: view a film, dress up like a soldier, or play in the Discovery Gallery. While on site, visit the First World War exhibit located in the Coach House Gallery.

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This mosque is one of the largest in southwestern Ontario. Tour the mosque and community centre. See the Islamic poster exhibition, the Qur'an in World Languages display, Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy, and Islamic daily prayers. Children's activities. Free gifts and refreshments for everyone. Interactive guided tours every half hour. Meet the Imam and members of Hamilton’s Muslim community.

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Tour Hamilton’s first waterworks, discover the featured 3D exhibit, and take a ride on a scale-model train. This museum is the only complete, intact waterworks from the 19th century left in North America, and preserves the oldest surviving Canadian-built 70-ton stationary steam engines. The Italianate architecture features massive stonework, detailed quoin blocks, Romanesque windows and a 46-metre (150-foot) chimney.

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Tisdale House is the oldest home in Ancaster. In the 1820s, the building was occupied by “Charcoal Burner” John O’Neil and housed two charcoal kilns. Later, the house became an undertaker’s parlour run by George Moore. The house has been fully retrofitted and is now home to the Ancaster Community Policing Centre and the Hamilton Police Museum.

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Discover the history of Hamilton’s harbour and learn about the exciting future developments at the Port of Hamilton! The main floor will feature historical artifacts, including a wooden boat made by Morris Boat Builders Enjoy the panoramic view of Hamilton’s industrial waterfront from the second floor and view a display featuring details of the $30-million Westport Modernization Project.

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Come and discover Canada’s naval past, present and future. The HMCS Star, home to Hamilton’s naval reserves, also houses a unique collection of historical naval artifacts. You are also invited to the mess on the afternoon of May 5 for a military reception honouring The Battle of the Atlantic (ceremony in Burlington). The HMCS Haida is permanently moored alongside.

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The John Weir Foote Armoury has been home to multiple reserve units since 1888. It provides an area for soldiers to hone their skills, but also has multiple museums. The building has the largest indoor balcony and second-largest indoor parade square in North America. Visitors can see a display of equipment, see demonstrations, explore the museum and talk to soldiers.

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McMaster’s Nuclear Research Building and H.G. Thode Library of Science and Engineering invite you to discover their makerspace, view particle accelerators up close, and take a virtual tour of a nuclear reactor! Visitors of all ages can experience science first-hand as they practise identifying radioactive objects, learn about crystallography, medical isotopes, neutron science, and historical uses of radioactive materials.

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Come and celebrate Melrose United Church’s 90th anniversary. The sanctuary is a large, welcoming and restful space with stained-glass windows that depict Old and New Testament stories. Melrose derives its name and appearance from Melrose Abbey in Scotland. The congregation was founded on November 13, 1925 with the amalgamation of the Charlton Avenue Methodist Church and the Westmount Presbyterian Church.

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The Joyce Centre welcomed its first students in Autumn 2018. Designed to incorporate leading-edge technologies and techniques, at 8,919 square metres (96,000 square feet), it is Canada’s largest – and Hamilton’s first – net zero institutional building. Explore the Centre, learn about the environmental features and experience interactive augmented and virtual reality displays. Visit the top-floor mechanical penthouse and lower-level geothermal pumps.

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The Mohawk Trail School is a historical one-room schoolhouse built in 1882. It is a fine example of architecture that served early education in Ontario. It became a museum in 1967 as part of the centennial celebrations. Come and tour the schoolhouse – the oldest surviving example in the community that is still presented in its original form.

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Valley City 117 was instituted in 1873 as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The meeting room features historical furniture and regalia, and the basement has a bar and stage where musical events have been performed for decades. Formerly the Merchants Exchange Hotel, this building has served many purposes – including a storage facility for William Lyon Mackenzie.

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Visit Indwell’s Parkdale Landing – Ontario’s largest passive house retrofit, featuring a mix of affordable apartments and commercial spaces. Indwell is a Christian charity that creates affordable housing communities. Guided tours will highlight the energy-efficient features and the affordable housing program. This building is an adaptive reuse. In the past, the buildings included a banquet hall, tavern and rooming house.

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The Playhouse Cinema is Hamilton’s oldest existing cinema. Explore the theatre and appreciate the beautiful beaux arts architecture and ornamental plaster work that decorates the lavish interior. Watch and enjoy a collection of short and silent films during your visit. This site was also the voting location for the 1946 Steel Workers Union strike that changed labour laws across Canada.

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An average of 680 women are imprisoned across Canada at any given time. The Salvation Army Ellen Osler Home offers a safe living environment, life skills resources, programs and community referrals for residents as they work toward independent community reintegration. Join us for guided tours of this historical building that once served as a private school from 1849-1902.

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The red brick building at 126 Catharine Street North began as home to the Hamilton Buggy Whip Manufacturing Company. Later, it became the home of Tregunno Seeds and is now The Seedworks Urban Offices. This building, an excellent example of adaptive reuse, retains many of its original features. Come and tour the building, explore displays and partake in cycling activities.

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The Shawn & Ed Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in the heart of historical Dundas. The building itself was built in the 1860s as the original Dundas Curling and Skating Rink. Established in 2016, the brewery focuses on German-style lagers with an emphasis on quality, authenticity and approachable craft beer. Guided tours and samples will be available.

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This Romanesque-style church has lovely stained glass and painted murals. The beautiful main altar and pulpit are carved and sculpted in renowned Italian Carrera marble. Experience the remarkable acoustics and the 110-year-old Casavant pipe organ. Learn about the history of this historical North End Parish that was the third Catholic Church in Hamilton.

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St. Mark’s Church is opening its doors to the public for the last time prior to a major restoration happening in 2019. Come and see the newly restored stained-glass windows and the unrestored historical interior, and speak with the project manager about the plans for restoration. The new St. Mark’s Centre will re-open in 2021 as a community cultural facility.

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This fine example of the English Gothic revival style features an interior that retains its original dark oak panelled ceiling, hand-carved details and Scottish-designed stained-glass windows. St. Paul’s has the tallest – and one of the few surviving – stone spires in Canada. Enjoy the Casavant organ and the wonderful acoustics of this church. Guided tours provided of this National Historic Site.

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The Westdale is a community-focused theatre dedicated to bringing movies and music to the City of Hamilton. The Westdale was the first theatre to open specifically for motion pictures in Hamilton. It reopened in February 2019, restored as close to the original 1935 opening. You can still see the original marquee letters mounted inside.

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Enjoy a rare opportunity to learn about the City of Hamilton’s historical and current drinking water system – and its filtration process – through a guided tour of the Learning Centre, Filter Gallery and Control Room. See how the extensive structural rehabilitation and architectural facelift in 2010 returned this plant to its original art deco grandeur.

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Wellwood is a bright, beautiful, safe space that celebrates living well with cancer. Visitors can enjoy the architecture, clerestory windows, original art and a featured exhibit of paintings by Ancaster’s Michelle Guitard. Wellwood occupies a remnant of the original Mountain (Tuberculosis) Sanatorium and subsequent Chedoke Hospital site. Outdoor landmarks include an Inuksuk – a tribute to the 1,274 Inuit sanatorium patients.

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Westfield Heritage Village is a stunning collection of over 35 historical buildings that has made it one of the most interesting historical destinations in Ontario. Carefully restored and staffed with costumed interpreters, the buildings capture the true charm and spirit of early Canadian culture. Visit the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Locomotive 103, the 1810 Westbrook House, log buildings and more.

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Enjoy a leisurely visit that emphasizes recent restoration work at this landmark site. Built in 1848, Whitehern is one of the finest examples of an intact historical home, containing elements from many time periods – Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian. Explore the heritage of Victorian ideas and possessions that influenced life at Whitehern on the eve of Second World War.

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The Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, located in the Hamilton Custom House, is one of the oldest remaining federal public buildings in Canada. The Centre aims to preserve, honour and promote the culture and history of all working people. In the Main Gallery, enjoy an immersive audio installation about women firefighters, some of whom will be available to answer questions.

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