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Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Digital Doors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

Explore some traditional Doors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake sites without having to leave home. The following sites offer tours, videos and activities that will engage people of all ages.

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14 Digital Doors Open sites

Butler's Barracks and The CommonsDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Butler's Barracks and The Commons

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.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

440 King Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=430

Architecture

Year built: 1814-54
Building type: Government building Historical landmark Military

Dates/hours open

May 01 - Mar 31

Christ Church-McNabDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Christ Church-McNab

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.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

1294 McNab Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
https://niagaraanglican.ca/parish/christ-church-mcnab

Architecture

Year built: 1853
Building type: Place of worship
Architect: William Thomas

Dates/hours open

May 01 - Mar 31

Clare's Harley-Davidson of NiagaraDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Clare's Harley-Davidson of Niagara

Throughout this store are architectural touches with reclaimed and re-purposed materials – including reclaimed brick, doors and woodwork, as well as a vintage window in the sales office and a countertop in the ladies’ washroom. Also, the art deco interior and fittings from Diana Sweets — a restaurant that operated for 75 years in St. Catharines — has now been fully restored inside!

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos
  • Kid-friendly

Contact info

590 York Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: lisa@clarescycle.com
https://www.claresharleydavidson.com

Architecture

Year built: 2008
Building type: Commercial Historical landmark

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Exchange Brewery, TheDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Exchange Brewery, The

Constructed in 1880, this building was Niagara's first telephone exchange. In 2015, it was transformed into a brewery, but 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.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

7 Queen Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: info@exchangebrewery.com
https://exchangebrewery.com

Architecture

Year built: 1880; adapted in 2015
Building type: Commercial Food and drink
Architect: Williamson Chong

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Grace United ChurchDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Grace United Church

Come and explore Grace United as it celebrates its 200th anniversary this year! This building was designed by William Thomas — the same architect who designed Toronto’s St. Michael’s Cathedral, Hamilton’s St. Paul’s Presbyterian and Brock’s Monument in Queenston. The magnificent stained-glass windows memorialize early church members and wartime casualties, and the interior reflects the classic Methodist form of practical design.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

222 Victoria Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: mail@graceunitedchurch.com
http://www.graceunitedchurch.com

Architecture

Year built: 1852
Building type: Place of worship
Architect: William Thomas

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Navy HallDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Navy Hall

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.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

305 Ricardo Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/culture/navyhall

Architecture

Year built: c. 1815
Building type: Historical landmark Military

Dates/hours open

May 01 - Mar 31

Niagara ApothecaryDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Niagara Apothecary

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.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Virtual tours
  • Kid-friendly

Contact info

5 Queen Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/niagara-apothecary

Architecture

Year built: 1818
Building type: Historical landmark Museum
Architect: Peter Stokes (restoration architect)

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Niagara District Court HouseDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Niagara District Court House

Constructed c. 1847, this courthouse served as the official county seat of Niagara District 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 have offices here. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1981.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

26 Queen Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: kevin.turcotte@notl.com
https://www.notl.com/recreation-events/facilities/court-house

Architecture

Year built: 1847
Building type: Courthouse Historical landmark Theatre
Architect: William Thomas

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Niagara Pumphouse Arts CentreDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre

Located on the banks of the Niagara River in a heritage building that formerly supplied water to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre connects the community through visual arts programs, exhibitions and events. The Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre Association was formed in 1990, and the building was restored and converted to this visual arts centre in 1994.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos
  • Kid-friendly

Contact info

247 Ricardo Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: office@niagarapumphouse.ca
https://niagarapumphouse.ca

Architecture

Year built: 1891
Building type: Historical landmark Gallery
Architect: John Gait and J.H. Armstrong

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Niagara-on-the-Lake MuseumDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum

The Niagara Historical Society, founded in 1895, 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. In October, the exhibition will be "Bound and Determined." During Doors Open, they’ll be offering special tours throughout the day.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos
  • Collections and resources
  • Kid-friendly

Contact info

43 Castlereagh Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: contact@nhsm.ca
https://www.notlmuseum.ca

Architecture

Year built: High school building (built 1806), Memorial Hall (built 1906) and Link Building (built 1971)
Building type: Attraction Historical landmark Museum
Architect: W.B. Allan

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

RiverBrink Art MuseumDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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RiverBrink Art Museum

The RiverBrink Art Museum is a fine-art museum featuring changing exhibitions from the renowned art collection of Samuel E. Weir, as well as outstanding works on loan from contemporary artists and Canadian and international collections. Current exhibitions will feature oil portraits by Mark Crofton Bell. There is also a library and gift shop onsite.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos
  • Kid-friendly

Contact info

116 Queenston Street
Queenston, Ontario
Email: manager@riverbrink.org
https://www.riverbrink.org

Architecture

Year built: 1970
Building type: Museum Gallery
Architect: Arthur E. Nutter

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

Shaw Festival TheatreDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Shaw Festival Theatre

At 856 seats, the Festival Theatre is the Shaw's largest venue. Built in the modernist style, it was designed to provide a spacious yet intimate audience experience. While touring backstage, you will hear stories from docents about the history of the theatre, the ensemble, and secrets of the 2022 season. Come and learn about the importance of real human connection!

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos
  • Collections and resources

Contact info

10 Queen's Parade
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: info@shawfest.com
https://www.shawfest.com

Architecture

Year built: 1973
Building type: Theatre
Architect: Ronald Thom

Dates/hours open

Oct 22 - Oct 22

St. Andrew's Presbyterian ChurchDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

The original 1794 church was burned by the American army during the War of 1812. A new church was later erected, but was also destroyed by a cyclone. In 1855, the current building was constructed. While major restorations have occurred over the years, the interior and exterior of this architectural gem appear much the same as the 1831 building.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

323 Simcoe Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: standrewsnotl@gmail.com
https://standrewsniagara.com

Architecture

Year built: 1855
Building type: Cemetery Historical landmark Place of worship
Architect: Kivas Tully

Dates/hours open

Oct 21 - Oct 21

St. Mark's Anglican ChurchDoors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake

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St. Mark's Anglican Church

St. Mark's is the oldest Anglican church in continuous use in Ontario. Completed in 1804, it was damaged in the War of 1912. The original balconies necessitated the unusual high pulpits. The 1840 East Window is the oldest stained glass in the province and, with the other windows, form the finest collection of stained glass in Ontario.

  • Digital Doors Open
  • Videos

Contact info

41 Byron Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Email: stmarks@cogeco.net
https://stmarksnotl.org

Architecture

Year built: 1792
Building type: Cemetery Historical landmark Place of worship Private residence

Dates/hours open

Oct 22 - Oct 22