Heritage Sites
A Walk in The Past: Historic Sites and Museums in the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways
If you love places where history feels alive and personal, the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways region is full of surprises. From riverside mansions to working mills and boat-building heritage, these museums make it easy to connect with the past in a relaxed, welcoming way.
Check online for visiting hours and full details.
HISTORIC HOMES
Fulford Place
This grand Edwardian mansion is easily one of the most striking heritage sites in the area. Once home to Senator George T. Fulford, it features opulent interiors, period furnishings, and stunning Italianate gardens. Guided tours are available, offering insight into wealth and lifestyle in the early 1900s.
📍 287 King Street East, Brockville
👉 www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/fulford-place
Homewood Museum
Located just outside Maitland, Homewood Museum is one of Ontario’s oldest homes, dating back to around 1800 and offering a fascinating glimpse into Loyalist life.
📍 1372 County Road 2, Maitland
👉 www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/homewood-museum
EARLY INDUSTRY
Old Stone Mill National Historic Site
The Old Stone Mill National Historic Site is one of the most impressive historic industrial sites in the region. Built in 1810, it’s Ontario’s only surviving pre-1812 automated stone gristmill. Don’t miss the chance to see the massive millstones and water-powered machinery in action during live milling demonstrations throughout the summer.
📍 44 King Street, Delta
The Spencerville Mill & Museum
This beautifully restored stone grist mill along the South Nation River is the heart of Spencerville’s history. Inside, exhibits span multiple floors, and in summer you can sometimes catch turbine demonstrations that show how the mill once worked.
📍 11 Water St, Spencerville
THOUSAND ISLANDS HERITAGE
1000 Islands History Museum
Located right on the waterfront in Gananoque, this museum highlights the people, ships, and stories that shaped the Thousand Islands region.
📍 125 Water Street, Gananoque
👉 www.1000islandshistorymuseum.com
Thousand Islands Boat Museum
With a collection of beautifully restored wooden boats, interactive exhibits, and even opportunities to get out on the water, this museum is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the craftsmanship and boating tradition of the region.
📍 125 Water Street, Gananoque
Brockville Museum
Housed in a beautiful historic building along the waterfront, the Brockville Museum offers a deep dive into the city’s past—from shipbuilding to industry and everyday life.
📍 5 Henry Street, Brockville
ON THE CANAL
Chaffey's Lockmasters House
Right along the Rideau Canal, this restored lockmaster’s house offers a look at canal life in the 19th century. With period furnishings and interpretive displays, it tells the story of the families who lived and worked here.
📍 1724 Chaffeys Lock Rd, Elgin
👉 www.chaffeyslock.ca/lockmasters-house-museum.html
Merrickville Blockhouse
Overlooking the Rideau Canal, this historic blockhouse dates back to the 1830s and was originally built to control and defend the canal. Today, it houses a small museum with exhibits on military life and canal history.
📍 279 Saint Lawrence Street, Merrickville
👉 www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=422
SMALL TOWN PRIDE
Athens and Area Heritage Museum
Set in a charming historic building in Athens, this museum highlights rural life, local industry, and community stories from generations past.
📍 12 Wellington St E, Athens
👉 Athens and Area Heritage Museum
Heritage Place Museum, Lyn
This museum brings the industrial past of Lyn to life, featuring artifacts, photographs, and even a working blacksmith shop. It’s a great place to see how small communities powered early industry in the region.
📍 19 Main Street West, Lyn
Mallory Coach House
Small but packed with character, the Mallory Coach House focuses on local heritage, including exhibits on the Mallorytown Glass Works and regional military history.
📍 1523 County Rd. 2, Mallorytown
👉 www.mallorytownglass.com/mallory-coach-house
Red Brick Schoolhouse
Originally a two-room public school for nearly 80 years, today, it functions as a living history museum, with one classroom recreated to reflect late 19th-century schooling while the other hosts exhibits and events.
📍 3 Halladay Street, Elgin
The Westport Museum
Located in the heart of the village, the Westport Museum showcases local history with a focus on industry, lake life, and the Rideau Canal. It’s a friendly, volunteer-run space where you can easily chat with knowledgeable locals.
📍 29 Bedford Street, Westport
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