Named after Colonel John Butler, a hero of the American Revolutionary War, this complex was an integral component of the military facilities built in the Niagara region to replace those destroyed during the War of 1812. Situated inland, out of range of the American artillery across the river, Butler's Barracks comprised more than 20 buildings by 1854. The only structures that survive from this period are the Commissariat Stores, Junior Commissariat Officers' Quarters, Men's Barracks and Gun Shed. The site was used by the British until 1870, after which it became a training camp for the Canadian militia. The barracks near John Street have been fully reconstructed and act as the headquarters for Parks Canada’s Southwestern Ontario Field Unit. The Commons was used extensively over the past two centuries for military training. It was also the site of the Native Council House at the perimeter of Paradise Grove from 1812 until the mid 1820s. For Digital Doors Open, explore The Commons through the video below.

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Land for this church was donated by William Servos; Edward Hiscott and James Servos mortgaged their farms for the loans. The first service was held here on Christmas Eve 1853 and was led by Reverend A.F. Atkinson. In the adjacent cemetery, there is a burial ground for Black slaves who escaped from the United States and lived near Eight Mile Creek. While this church remains closed, you can learn more about this fascinating site through the video below as part of Digital Doors Open.

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Throughout this store, you can see architectural touches of reclaimed and repurposed materials. Outside, a large water tower – originally from Fort Erie – was relocated to form the Harley Davidson sign. Inside, reclaimed brick was used to create the industrial feel. The wood panelling came from Buffalo, New York and features original mailboxes from a small apartment building. Other items such as the vintage window in the sales offices and doors came from the same source. In the ladies’ washroom is a bathroom counter from the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. In addition, the original art deco interior and other restaurant fittings from Diana Sweets – a restaurant that operated for 75 years in St. Catharines – has now been restored inside! As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this unique site in the video below.

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Constructed in 1880, this building was Niagara's first telephone exchange. In 2015, it was transformed into a brewery, but it retains some of its original features. Original hemlock floor joists became the second-floor bar and tabletops. Some nods to the building's use as a telephone exchange include brewing numbers (instead of names) and a tasting board shaped like a rotary dial. As part of Digital Doors Open, you can learn more about this unique site through the video below. Check their website, too, for virtual events - including Sourpalooza.

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Steps away from Queen Street, with yew trees flanking the front entrance, this storied church has an interesting history. Built in 1852 for the Canada Presbyterian Church, it was vacated by 1874 and later purchased at auction by the local Methodist congregation. In 1925, the United Church of Canada was formed and local congregations merged to become Grace United Church. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about Grace United by watching the video below.

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In 1765, British naval craftsmen from Fort Niagara erected a barracks on the opposite side of the Niagara River. Over the years, several buildings – known collectively as Navy Hall – evolved into a key military supply facility for British forts on the upper Great Lakes. During the American Revolution, the Provincial Marine wintered at Navy Hall and, in 1792, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe converted one of the buildings into his residence. The Lieutenant Governor's home in the first capital of the Province of Upper Canada later served as a dining hall for the officers at Fort George. Navy Hall was destroyed by American forces during the War of 1812. After the war, the British rebuilt some of the buildings, of which one still survives today. As part of Digital Doors Open, you can learn more about this site’s remarkable history through the video below.

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Step through these doors and see how pharmacists practised their profession over 100 years ago. The apothecary opened in the late 1860s at this location and closed in 1964. The Ontario Heritage Trust acquired the property, led its restoration and opened it as a museum in 1971. Operated by volunteers from the Ontario College of Pharmacists. For Digital Doors Open, explore the apothecary through a virtual tour found here.

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The Niagara Court House was constructed c. 1847 and served as the official county seat of Niagara District – with courtrooms, meeting rooms and jail cells – until the judicial courts were moved to St. Catharines in 1862. Its large courtroom interior was home to the Shaw Festival’s Court House Theatre until 1973. Today, Parks Canada and the Chamber of Commerce use the building for offices. The Court House received designation as a National Historic Site in 1981. For Digital Doors Open, learn more about the site in the video below.

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This art gallery and studio is located in the old pumping station (circa 1891) that supplied water to the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake until 1983. The Pumphouse Art Centre Association was formed in 1990 and the building was restored and converted into a visual arts centre in 1994. The Pumphouse offers year-round educational programs, exhibitions and events that promote the arts. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this fascinating centre through the video below.

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The Niagara Historical Society was founded in 1895 and opened the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum in 1907. The museum collects, preserves, researches, educates and promotes the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake and its communities – inspiring an appreciation of local history through engaging programs and exhibitions. While the museum is currently open with reduced hours and new COVID protocols in place, there remains so much that can be done digitally. Start by learning about the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake through this video. Check out their online exhibits through Google Arts & Culture. Learn about some of the town's historical figures through video cemetery tours. Or try one of their online quizzes to test your knowledge about Niagara-on-the-Lake and its surrounding communities.

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RiverBrink houses approximately 1,400 works of art – including paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures. Exhibitions, installed year-round, come from the collection of Samuel E. Weir, and from public and private loans. This building was, in fact, his homestead, purchased in 1943. An art library, decorative arts and impressive views of the Niagara River enhance the visitor experience. Visitors can enjoy three floors of exhibition space, a gift shop and the library's priceless collection of books on art, history and local and regional geography. The museum remains open, with restrictions in place. But, as part of Digital Doors Open, you can learn more about this intriguing site through the video below.

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The Shaw Festival celebrates the life and spirit of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) by creating theatre that is as entertaining and provocative as Shaw himself. At 856 seats, the Festival Theatre is the Shaw Festival's largest venue. Built in the modernist style, the theatre was designed to provide a spacious yet intimate audience experience. Take a backstage tour where docents will relate stories about the current ensemble, as well as the history of the Festival and its importance to the Canadian theatre landscape. The Royal George is a theatre in a turn-of-the-century vaudeville house. Constructed in 1915, vaudeville acts and silent movies shown at the theatre entertained the soldiers at Niagara Camp throughout the first half of the 20th century. The Shaw Festival acquired the building in 1980, renovated it and reopened it as The Royal George in June of that year. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a look behind the scenes at the Shaw Festival through the video below and learn more about this fascinating place. Also, explore the Shaw from Home – a series of engaging and entertaining videos. From performances and interviews to rehearsal sessions, “how to” lessons and The Great Shaw Quiz, you can stay connected with this unique theatre company. In addition, educators can enjoy thought-provoking resources that include videos, study guides, activity ideas, workshops and more. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, follow this online spooky murder mystery game: Sherlock Holmes and the Deathly Clocktower. All from the comfort of your own home!

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The original church was built here in 1794, but was burned by the occupying American army in 1813 during the War of 1812. A new church was built in 1831, but it was destroyed by a cyclone. In 1855, the current building was constructed. While major restorations occurred in 1937 and 1991, the interior and exterior appear much the same as the 1831 church. Learn more about this church and its history by watching the video below as part of Digital Doors Open.

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This collection of buildings sits in two pristine hectares (seven acres). The 18th-century church has been in continuous use longer than any other church in Ontario. A cemetery, still in use, records a burial from 1782. The 1886 Addison Hall houses parish functions and the impressive home of the rector is an unusual 1858 Tuscan rectory. For Digital Doors Open, learn more about the church by watching the video below. Note: This church is currently only open for one Sunday service. Check their website for full details.

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Willowbank is a neoclassical estate house (1834) situated in a picturesque landscape. As a private residence, the estate changed hands several times. The site has over 8,000 years of documented human use, as Indigenous people used the ravine as a portage route. The lower campus is the Laura Secord School, built in 1914 (an extension was built in the 1950s). Learn more about Willowbank as part of Digital Doors Open by watching the video below, or take a campus tour of this exciting heritage conservation school.

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