Backus Mill Heritage and Conservation Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Backus Mill Heritage and Conservation Centre pool |
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| Location | Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada |
| Elevation | 636 feet (194 m) above sea level |
| Built | 1798 |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Website | Backus Mill |
| Designated | 1998 (plaqued in 2002) |
The Backus Heritage Conservation Area is a cool place in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. It's a great spot to learn about history and enjoy nature!
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What is the Backus Heritage Conservation Area?
This special area is home to the famous Backhouse Mill, also known as the Backhouse Grist Mill. A grist mill is a building where grain is ground into flour. This mill was built way back in 1798. It's amazing because it was one of the few mills that wasn't burned down during the War of 1812! The mill kept working until 1957 and is now a national historic site. This means it's a very important place in Canadian history.
What can you do at Backus Heritage?
The conservation area has lots of fun things to do. You can go camping there, either for a short visit or for a whole season. It's also a great place to explore local history, especially at the Backhouse Homestead.
Every September, something exciting happens: the area hosts a reenactment of a battle from the War of 1812. It's like stepping back in time to see history come alive!
There's also a fully lifeguarded pool where you can cool off and have fun swimming.
Backus Mill Conservation Education Centre
The Backus Mill Conservation Education Centre is a fantastic place to learn about the natural world around the area. It has cool exhibits that teach you about local wildlife and the traditions of waterfowl hunting. It helps visitors understand how important it is to protect nature.
Explore the Heritage Village
The Heritage Village is like an open-air museum. It has many old buildings that have been carefully restored or rebuilt to look just like they did long ago. It's a great way to see what life was like in the 19th century.
Here are some of the buildings you can explore:
- The 19th-century Backhouse Homestead
- The historic Backhouse Mill
- A charming old church
- A carriage shop
- A barn with old farming tools
- A drive shed filled with buggies and wagons
- Two cozy log houses
- A schoolhouse
- A saw mill
- A farm with 19th-century industrial equipment
The main Museum building also has interesting exhibits. You can learn about the Long Point Area, see displays of 19th-century businesses, and even discover the stories of shipwrecks in Lake Erie near Long Point.
Images for kids
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The historic Backhouse Grist Mill, built in 1798.
See also
In Spanish: Centro de conservación y patrimonio Backus Mill para niños
