Cool museums in Ontario you should visit

Southwestern Ontario

Oil Museum of Canada

The Oil Museum of Canada is a National Historic Site in Lambert County situated at the site where James Miller Williams, known as the Father of the Canadian Oil Industry, dug the first commercial oil well in North America.

View historic photographs, geological displays, functioning oil fields, and souvenirs brought to Oil Springs from drillers who travelled around the world on drilling expeditions.

Location: 2423 Kelly Road, Oil Springs

Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum

The Cheese and Agricultural Museum is a wonderful stop on Oxford County’s Cheese Trail to learn about the region’s cheese history.

The museum consists of seven different buildings which replicate a 19th-century cheese factory, the Sherbrooke Barn, a blacksmith shop and the Ingersoll Community Museum. There’s also a replica of the infamous 3,300-kilogram wheel of cheese that is worthy of an Instagram moment.

Location: 290 Harris Street, Ingersoll

Niagara Region

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium

Encounter the strange at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, a one-stop destination for family fun.

Discover unusual artifacts and venture into the Vortex tunnel to enter a different realm. Pose with the jaws of a megalodon shark or the eggs laid by the world’s largest birds.

With rotating exhibits, new and exciting interactive experiences are available for the whole family. 

Location: 4960 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls

Niagara Apothecary

The Niagara Apothecary is a Niagara-on-the-Lake treasure steps away from the historic Prince of Wales Hotel.

Built in the early 19th century, it had a series of owners over its century-plus time of operation before it was closed permanently in 1964. It was restored in 1971 to maintain the architectural integrity of the original building and reopened as a museum.

Although some people mistake it for an operating pharmacy, it’s a museum that brilliantly traces over 100 years of pharmacy. From well-preserved dispensers to bottles of ailments, including the unconventional ones used before drug laws were passed, there are a lot of gems to discover at this museum.

Location: 5 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington

Fashion History Museum

Explore how fashion has evolved over time and how it connects to the world around us.

Rotating exhibits show how clothes reflect our culture, identity, politics and technology. The museum helps us understand our past, present and future through fashion by displaying clothing and accessories.

Free public parking is available within walking distance of the museum.

Location: 74 Queen Street East, Cambridge

Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario

Visit the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, just an hour from Toronto.

Showcasing the rich history and cultural significance of maple syrup in Ontario, explore traditional syrup production methods, enjoy interactive exhibits and stroll the sugarbush trail to the Gathering of the Giants Parkland. Shop for small-batch maple products or visit the Potted Landscape Tree Garden for a selection of potted maples, spruce and pine trees.

Dogs on leashes are welcome, and there are no entrance or parking fees.

Location: 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline, Hillsburg

Greater Toronto Area

Textile Museum of Canada

Learn about the clothes you wear and the tools used to create them at the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto.

The museum showcases a variety of textiles from around the world and different periods of history, with a collection of over 13,000 artifacts that span nearly 2,000 years of existence.

Interactive workshops are offered for those interested in creating various textiles. There are also a variety of exhibits and presentations that engage the public about local and global issues.

Location: 55 Centre Avenue, Toronto

Bata Shoe Museum

Prepare to be mesmerized by a spectacular array of shoes and related artifacts that celebrate footwear from over 4,500 years of history.

Located near Toronto’s top shopping district, the Bata Shoe Museum’s sleek and sophisticated architecture is as stylish as its contents.

Footwear on display range from tiny shoes worn in foot binding cultures and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut-crushing clogs and glitzy contemporary platforms. Just like fashion, the exhibits change often, so there’s always something new to see.

Location: 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Kawartha and Northumberland

The Canadian Canoe Museum

The Canadian Canoe Museum recognizes the monumental role canoes played as the earliest form of transportation in Canada. Now welcoming visitors in a new location, at the back of the Lakefront Campus.

The museum holds the largest collection of its kind with more than 600 canoes, kayaks and other small watercraft, along with thousands of related artifacts. The museum’s collection also includes a dramatic waterfall and a model Mi’kmaq wigwam.

Location: 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough

Southeastern Ontario

Canada’s Penitentiary Museum

Located at the birthplace of the correctional services in the nation, Canada’s Penitentiary Museum is housed in the former warden’s residence of the notorious Kingston Penitentiary.

A walk through the museums provides a fascinating window into the history of Canada’s penitentiary system.

Location: 555 King Street West, Kingston

Ottawa Region

Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum

Enter the world of espionage, code cracking and secret agents at the underground war museum named after Canada’s 13th prime minister. Built between 1959 and 1961, the Diefenbunker Cold War Museum was meant to shelter 535 Canadian government officials in the event of a nuclear disaster, but ultimately served as a Canadian Forces Station until 1994.

It is an expansive place to explore, consisting of a four-story building with over 30,000 square metres of space. The museum is well preserved with furniture, equipment and technology that serve as reminders of life during the Cold War era. Interactive programs and events are available.

Location: 3929 Carp Road, Ottawa

Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

Canada's achievements in aviation and courageous forest firefighters are celebrated at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

The museum is a hands-on centre with over 19,500 square metres of interactive displays and artifacts that explore the incredible story of bush flying and its role in Canadian history.

Location: 50 Pim Street, Sault Ste. Marie

Entomica Insectarium

Located conveniently inside the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, the Entomica Insectarium allows visitors of all ages to experience insects from around the world up close.

Discover a variety of live exotic insects displayed in beautiful tanks called vivariums. Friendly Bug Wranglers will introduce you to these incredible creatures during public tours. You’ll have the chance to get up close, take pictures and even interact with some of the insects.

Location: 50 Pim Street, Sault Ste. Marie

Northwest Ontario

Northern Ontario Sportfishing Centre

Located on the shore of Lake of the Woods, the Northern Ontario Sportfishing Centre (NOSFC) is dedicated to the region’s rich fishing history.

The centre features fascinating exhibits of antique fishing equipment, vintage motors and boats, all donated by local residents. It also supports local artists, showcasing paintings and stunning totem poles.

Whether you’re in town for an hour or a summer, the NOSFC offers a unique glimpse into the history and culture of Northern Ontario fishing.

Location: 5714 Highway 71, Sioux Narrows