The Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum promotes, collects and retains the history of Coldwater and its surrounding area from 1830 to 1950. The museum is located on the original homestead site of 1836 settler Archibald Woodrow, with 2 hectares (6.6 acres) of park-like setting that includes a variety of heritage buildings, the Coldwater Heritage Trail and Heritage Gardens. Discover history that you can touch, hear and explore. While the museum is closed for the 2020 season, you can take a peek from home by watching the video below.

Since 1960, the Museum on the Boyne has shared stories of the people and places that make up South Simcoe. In 2020, they are celebrating their 60th anniversary (see the video below) with exhibits that trace the growth of South Simcoe from early settlement to present day – featuring a 1914 agricultural fair building, an 1865 log house, and an 1858 barn. The museum is a stop on the Simcoe County Honey Trail. Stop by to learn about D.A. Jones – the Bee King of Canada – and pick up a Honey Trail map, or download a copy. Note: During COVID-19, the Museum on the Boyne is open to visitors by appointment only.

The Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH), housed in the landmark Sir Sam Steele Memorial Building in downtown Orillia, acts as the steward of the community's heritage and culture by being actively engaged in the community and being responsive to its needs. Originally a customs house and post office, the building is now a museum with 12,000 artifacts in their collection, ranging from artwork and textiles to metal and woodwork. The OMAH designs and creates exhibitions, programs and events to inspire the community to explore, engage and experience art, local history and culture. You'll even find the perfect photo opportunity – they have a jail cell in the basement! Currently, the site is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, from Noon to 3 p.m. But for Digital Doors Open, feel free to check out the site through the video below.

The building that now holds the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum and Archives was constructed in 1875 by Carl Beck. Its original function was a general company store for the workers in Beck’s nearby sawmills, and it carried everything from hardware to groceries. The Beck Company employees were paid partly in cash and partly in Beck tokens, which were only redeemable at this store and another similar one on Main Street, a method of payment that increased the company profits. At this museum, you will find Simcoe County's oldest car, a turn-of-the-century general store and other exhibits. This rectangular two-storey building still stands on its original site. Come and learn about the history of one of Ontario's oldest communities. While the museum is currently open, visitation is limited and visitors are encouraged to pre-book their visit through email or phone. For Digital Doors Open, however, explore the site through the video below.

The Simcoe County Museum offers a wide variety of events, exhibits and programs for all ages throughout the year. Visitors can discover Simcoe County's history through hands-on exploration and interactive displays. In September 2018, the County conducted a controlled burn of 30 hectares (74 acres) of land adjacent to the museum and began the largest planting operation in decades in order to restore the Museum Tract as a healthy ecosystem and important wildlife habitat. They have since planted seven native species of trees, including the jack pine, which will account for over two-thirds of all the new trees to be planted on the tract. To learn about forestry in Simcoe County, watch this video. Or, to learn more about the heritage buildings at the museum, check out the video below. Also, as part of Digital Doors Open, explore their Museum From Home, which includes a collection of online exhibits, Virtual Fall Fair, kids’ activities (including downloadable colouring pages), recipes, a scavenger hunt, and much more!

The Tremont was built in 1889 by John McCormick as a 24-room hotel. It is one the last remaining 19th-century hotel buildings in the Collingwood Heritage District. The proximity of the hotel to the railway station and port made it a popular destination for travellers. Now a home to the arts, The Tremont still carries its original name and is an important historical link to Collingwood’s railway and shipbuilding era. The historical building was saved from destruction after a long battle by the Collingwood Branch of the Architectural Conservatory of Ontario, and The Tremont was later purchased by an avid heritage preservationist and a ceramic artist, who began to breathe new artistic life into the building. The former hotel’s halls are once again filled with people proclaiming the newly reopened Tremont as a jewel in Collingwood’s historical downtown. The Tremont restoration project received several awards – locally, provincially and nationally – and spurred further revitalization on Simcoe Street. As part of Digital Doors Open, take a virtual tour of the building by watching the video below.

The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Tay, Ontario offers 1,214 hectares (3,000 acres) of national wildlife area and provincially significant wetlands. Its mission is to be a centre of excellence for wetlands research, interpretation and education based on the principle of stewardship and the importance of environmental awareness. Open 362 days a year, visitors of all ages and abilities are encouraged to discover raptors and reptiles, explore hiking, cross country ski and snowshoe on its trails, experience canoeing and kayaking through the marsh channels, and visit the observation tower, floating boardwalks, waterfowl monitoring platform, wildflower gardens, the bee house and so much more! But Wye Marsh is more than a tourist attraction. More than 6,000 students take part in educational programs every year, and the stewardship program initiatives include monitoring of wildlife populations and habitat conservation. As part of Digital Doors Open, check out their “at home activities” – including nature journaling, how to build a bee hotel, making sweet bannock, playing games, making masks, and much more. The Wye Marsh is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. but you are encouraged to check their website before visiting as some programming is not available during the COVID-19 pandemic.