This site is crucial to understanding the history of residential schools and reconciliation in Canada. The Shingwauk Residential School, which operated here from 1874-1970, is now home to Algoma University. Exhibits highlight foundational concepts of healing through education, designing for change, Indigenizing the museum and “Teaching Wigwam” as a contemporary education strategy. Visitors can enter their names in a draw!

Blowes Cards & Gifts occupies the historical Victorian Brandenberger Block, once home to the town’s first Festival Theatre box office and later a Loblaws grocery store. Original timber floors, decorative tin ceilings and a restored façade remain, and visitors can view the newly renovated upstairs — The Blowes Inn space — which showcases additional period details from its 19th-century origins.

The Clergue Blockhouse stands as a reminder of two important periods in Sault Ste. Marie's history. The blockhouse base contains exhibits and information on the fur trade (the base was originally the powder magazine). The top floor exhibit showcases the early industrialization of Sault Ste. Marie and the man behind it — Francis H. Clergue. Clergue lived on the top floor.

Rebuilt following a devastating fire, Knox Presbyterian remains a cornerstone of Stratford's spiritual and cultural life. Its magnificent stained-glass windows, including a stunning seven-panel installation, have been recently restored. While the congregation continues to worship here, the building is also being prepared for Copperlight, a new hospitality and arts venue. Return for a special ticketed dinner/concert Saturday evening (pre-booking required).

Start your day at the Doors Open Stratford Information Headquarters! Grab a coffee downtown and pick up your map/information before starting your journey. Kresge’s “five and dime” opened here in 1929 during the Depression, offering affordable goods until the early 1970s. Later home to the National Bank, the building now welcomes visitors as Stratford’s tourism centre.

The Ermatinger Old Stone House is one of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto. Charles Ermatinger and his wife Mananowe (Charlotte) ran their home and business here during the fur trade era. It has served many purposes over the years — hotel, sheriff's residence, courthouse and apartments. Restored from 1967-70, the building is now a historical site and museum.

The two buildings that house Gallery Stratford were constructed by London architect George F. Durand. One structure was built as the Stratford Waterworks’ pump house and the other for equipment storage. Durand believed that architecture was more than just engineering — it was art. You can see that in his mix of styles. Designated by the City of Stratford in 1985.

Join one of these 30-40-minute walking tours, beginning and ending at Stratford City Hall. Led by Stratford Walking Tours, you will explore the stories of the city hall, the courthouse, the Shakespearean Gardens, the Avon River and Memorial Gardens Stratford. Each 1-1.5-kilometre tour has a maximum of 25 participants. No registration required (first come, first served, rain or shine).

In 1874, Stratford’s first brick Lutheran church was dedicated. This building later became part of the Pounder Brothers Mill, whose construction shaped a lot of Stratford. Portions of the original church remain visible in Jobsite Brewing Co.’s production area today. Visitors can enjoy these historical touches alongside a pint and a wood-fired pizza, both made onsite.

Step inside The Memorial Tower — an iconic structure and symbol of the sacrifices made by local men and women in the service of their country and the world. Artwork depicts action from six military conflicts dating back to the War of 1812. Representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 will be onsite.

The North West Company Lock is located at the foot of Huron Street. It is actually two structures built almost 100 years apart. The stone replica lock seen today was built in 1896 and lies over the floor and framework of the original lock built in 1797. The lock was built to help laden canoes and boats navigate the rapids.

Explore the Ontario Forest Research Institute (OFRI), one of the Sault’s most beautifully designed buildings. Constructed with local maple, granite and glass, it offers a unique work environment with natural light and a reminder of its northern Ontario location. OFRI is a Ministry of Natural Resources workplace, supporting forest research related to climate change, genetic diversity, invasive species and more.

Built in 1874 by local builder Thomas Orr Sr., this elegant Italianate home features tall arched windows, decorative brickwork and wide eaves with ornate brackets. Once a private residence, it now serves as the Orr Insurance & Investment head office, reflecting Stratford's rich architectural heritage and the Orr family's long-standing community legacy.

Designed by prominent architect George F. Durand, this is one of the most magnificent courthouses in Ontario with many of its original features intact. This excellent example of High Victorian architecture combines bichromal masonry with a variety of other building materials, not to mention architectural styles. Check out the spectacular stained-glass windows, intricate woodwork, decorative tile floors and grand staircases.

Founded in 1858, the Queen's Inn is Stratford's oldest continuously operating hotel, rebuilt in the neoclassical style in 1905. Long a gathering place at the heart of community life — even hosting Queen Elizabeth II during her 1959 visit — the hotel is now being restored/transformed into a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property known as the Queen’s Cue, continuing its tradition of hospitality.

Explore the Sault Ste. Marie Armoury, home to the 49th (Sault Ste. Marie) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery and the 33 Service Battalion. Today, army reserve and cadet units use the facility for military drills and training. Visit the Lest We Forget Remembrance and History Library and Last Post Museum. Learn about anti-aircraft guns and the Howitzer artillery gun outside.

Located in the old post office building, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum showcases artifacts that illustrate the city’s history. Over three floors of exhibit space and one and a half floors of archival space, exhibits include the Walter Wallace Military Gallery, Skylight Gallery, Marine Gallery, Music Gallery, Sports Gallery and the Durham Gallery, which features rotating exhibits.

Explore the world of true crime at the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library! Join authors Judy Penz Sheluk and Amanda Capper to learn about researching real-life cases and transforming historical documents into gripping narratives. Sign up for a guided tour of the library, and along the way, learn about historical criminal cases and the collections that the library holds.

Stratford City Hall, built in 1899, is a National Historic Site in the heart of downtown. This red-brick Victorian landmark, with its iconic clock tower, ornate detailing and auditorium, showcases the city’s rich history. Doors Open visitors can explore the auditorium and council chambers, and discover the stories behind the building’s past and its role in the community.

This museum comprises a buff brick house and extension, woodlots and trails. The home was built for early settler Thomas Holliday, who raised 10 children here with his wife, Mary. The property was sold in 1946 to Wesley Thurston, who developed an equine operation. The museum's collection of 35,000-plus artifacts now sits on the footprint of the Thurston horse barn.

The Stratford Public Library, built in 1903 with a $15,000 Andrew Carnegie donation, opened quietly after heated debate over accepting Carnegie’s funds. Originally featuring a grand north entrance and lower-floor custodian quarters, the library expanded in 1925-26, moving the entrance east. Today, its historical architecture reflects a century of evolving library service, from restricted stacks to vibrant community spaces.

Take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Collections Room and Conservation Labs at the Stratford-Perth Archives. Inspired by the architecture of the Perth County Courthouse and Registry Office, this 2015 building was purpose-built to preserve photographs, maps and other documents illuminating rich local history. If you can only make a quick visit, check out the Treasures Old and New exhibit.