This museum brings history to life for visitors of all ages. Step back in time and explore the evolution of life in Simcoe County through interactive galleries, heritage buildings and an extensive artifact collection. Nestled within 132 hectares (327 acres) of lush, forested grounds, it boasts a remarkable collection of over 30,000 artifacts spanning from prehistoric eras to modern times.

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.

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.

The Friends of St. Giles present their first walking tour: Stewart & Witton Major Works: Stadium Neighbourhood, which will feature the architecture firm behind some of Hamilton’s most beloved landmarks, now in their 150th year. Enjoy four beautiful and irreplaceable Stewart & Witton works: the elegant Playhouse Cinema, the Hendry’s Building (home to Hendry’s Barbershop and the Barton Village BIA), the King George School and St. Giles Church (Stewart & Witton’s Gothic-revival masterpiece). All works on this 1.5-hour self-guided tour were designed in the 1910s by the firm, which operated from 1904 until Lt.-Col. Stewart’s death in France at The Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. For Digital Doors Open, follow the tour via the map above or visit their website. #StewartWitton150

The former Carnegie Hamilton Public Library (1913-80), which now houses the Supreme Court of Justice Family Court, was constructed with a grant of $100,000 from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and officially opened on May 5, 1913 by the Lieutenant Governor (and fellow-Hamiltonian) Sir John Morison Gibson. This library, which offered visitors open shelving for the first time, was moved after six decades of service to its current location on York Street next to the Jackson Square complex. Designed by local architect A.W. Peene in the neoclassical style, its outstanding architectural features include two-storey pilasters, massive corner piers, the entablature with dentillated cornice and a prominent staired entranceway. A central two-storey atrium with marble balustrade, double staircase and skylight unifies the interior and provides a spacious and elegant entrance lobby. In 1987, it was designated by the City of Hamilton as a significant heritage landmark and one of the finest surviving Carnegie libraries in Canada. For Digital Doors Open, learn more about the history of this building through the video below.

This was Hamilton’s first theatre built expressly to show “talkies” — motion pictures with sound. The beautiful art deco building was fully restored in 2017 by the Westdale Cinema Group and has become a cinematic, cultural and economic hub. The venue now hosts live events as well as films. It is also a community space managed as a not-for-profit charitable organization.

The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre (240-mile) canal route that connects Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay in Lake Huron at Port Severn through 46 locks, following the same rugged route taken by Samuel de Champlain in 1615. Begun in 1833 primarily as a safe passage for ships on the Great Lakes against possible American attack, the waterway would soon prove its value as a system of transportation for goods as well and would become an economic boost for the nation. Lured by the promise of free land, thousands of British, French and Italian men came to Canada to build the canal. The first lock was built in Bobcaygeon in 1833, but the entire canal wasn’t completed until 1920 – 87 years later. Today, the canal is run by Parks Canada and is a recreational boater’s paradise that attracts 18,000 visitors from across North American each summer. During Digital Doors Open, you can learn more about this engineering feat through the video below.

Two prominent men – Eben James and William Fraser – had tremendous influence on the development of Trenton through their lives and their rivalry, establishing a company that would influence the development of the town more than any other company in its history. By the 19th century, Trenton was becoming a central hub of agriculture distribution in Ontario. James and Fraser took advantage of this factor by establishing Trenton Cold Storage, using the region’s expanded train and steamship networks to distribute produce more effectively to regional, national and international markets. And apples made up a large part of that produce. The influence of this company and these two men has left an enduring legacy that resonates in the town today. Learn more about their lives and their company through the Sean Scally video below – entitled Apples and Egos: The Saga of Eben James and William Fraser – and see for yourself how apples and egos impacted the history of Trenton.

The United States has had an official diplomatic presence in Canada since 1827. Built in 1969, the current building creates a bridge between places, peoples and ideas. Symbolizing a bridge, the building stands for partnership and alliance. As a work of architecture, the magnificence of the building is indicative of the significant relationship that the United States has with Canada.

This park, created by the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, helps us understand, celebrate and honour the town’s Black history. It is an experiential art installation designed to engage, educate and challenge visitors. The park has an accompanying audio/visual walking tour that you’re welcome to explore. During Doors Open, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum's "Tiny Museum" will also be onsite with a mobile exhibition.

The Belleville Wastewater Treatment Plant is located by the Bay of Quinte in Belleville’s east end. It deals with wastewater that goes down drains in our homes, public buildings and commercial facilities. Wastewater travels through the city’s sanitary sewer system to the Water Pollution Control Plant at the same complex. Wastewater then goes through an extensive treatment process and is returned to the Bay of Quinte. Biosolids are used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes. As of 2020, city water staff have been testing a new odour-control product to break down and control sulfur compounds that can fill the autumn air surrounding the city’s wastewater treatment plant. A storm sewer is a pipeline designed to direct stormwater to a stormwater management pond or receiving stream or body of water. Stormwater is rainfall and melting snow that soaks into the ground or runs off surfaces into storm sewers and nearby waterways. As part of Digital Doors Open, learn more about this treatment plant here.

Westfield Heritage Village, a living history museum, consists of over 35 restored historical buildings dating from the early 1800s. Various building types are positioned as a small village within a natural conservation area of over 202 hectares (500 acres). The village was started by two high school teachers – D. Glenn Kilmer and Golden L. MacDonell – who purchased the original 12-hectare (30-acre) site to create an outdoor museum preserving 19th-century rural life. They purchased their first building, the Jerseyville Train Station, outbidding a local farmer who wanted it for his farm as an outbuilding. Six more buildings were added before it was officially opened in 1964. Some 30 buildings later, the village is a thriving cultural centre that features educational programs and events year-round. Take a virtual tour of this spectacular site in the video below.

Come and visit this beautiful national historic site, Willowbank, which was built in 1834-36 in the Greek classical revival style. Since 2006, Willowbank has been home to the School of Restoration Arts. The school’s Heritage Conservation diploma program has trained students in the theory and practice of this unique field, helping shape a new generation of heritage conservation leaders.

The style and construction of the Custom House, one of Canada’s oldest remaining federal public buildings, reflect the rise of Hamilton as a major railway and port. Often cited as one of Hamilton’s foremost architectural landmarks, it currently houses the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, a community museum dedicated to celebrating all working people through art, history and culture.