Buxton National Historic Site and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buxton National Historic Site and Museum |
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Bell at Buxton National Historic Site and Museum
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| Location | North Buxton, Ontario, Canada |
| Area | 9,000 acres (36 km2) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Website | Buxton Museum Official Webpage: http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/ |
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The Buxton National Historic Site and Museum is a very important place. It tells the story of the Elgin Settlement. This settlement was started in 1849 by a man named Rev. William King. He worked with a group that included Lord Elgin. Lord Elgin was the Governor General of Canada at that time.
Rev. King used to own slaves, but he changed his mind and became an abolitionist. This means he worked to end slavery. He bought about 9,000 acres (36 square kilometers) of land in Southwestern Ontario. Here, he created a safe place for people who had escaped slavery and for free Black people.
Rev. King brought 15 people who used to be his slaves to Buxton. They could finally live free lives there. The Elgin settlement was divided into 50-acre (20-hectare) plots of land. These plots sold for $2.50 per acre. People could pay for the land over ten years, with a small interest rate. For many people escaping slavery, the Buxton settlement was the last stop on the Underground Railroad from the United States.
The museum opened in 1967. It has a main building with exhibits about the community's history. You can also see an old schoolhouse from 1861 and a log cabin from 1854. There is also a barn. Nearby, you can visit historic church cemeteries. The museum is located in North Buxton, Ontario, close to South Buxton in Chatham-Kent.
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What is the Elgin Settlement?
The Elgin Settlement was a community built for Black people. It was a place where they could own land and build new lives. Rev. William King wanted to create a self-sufficient community. This meant people would work together to make their own schools, churches, and businesses.
Who was Rev. William King?
Rev. William King was a minister from the United States. He inherited slaves from his family. But he believed slavery was wrong. He decided to free his slaves and help other Black people find freedom. He moved to Canada to start the Elgin Settlement.
What was the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad. It was a secret network of safe houses and routes. These routes helped people escape slavery in the United States. They traveled north to free states or to Canada. Buxton was a very important destination for many of these brave travelers.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum complex has several historic buildings. These buildings show what life was like in the settlement. You can explore the main museum building. It has displays and stories about the people who lived there.
The Historic Schoolhouse
One of the buildings is an old schoolhouse from 1861. It shows how children learned in the past. Education was very important to the people of the Elgin Settlement. They wanted their children to have good opportunities.
The Log Cabin and Barn
You can also visit an 1854 log cabin. This cabin shows how early settlers lived. There is also a barn. These buildings help visitors imagine daily life in the 1800s. They show the hard work and community spirit of the settlers.
Why is Buxton Important Today?
The Buxton National Historic Site and Museum helps us remember an important part of history. It teaches us about courage, freedom, and community. It shows how people worked together to overcome challenges. It is a place where we can learn about the strength of the human spirit.
See also
- Anna Maria Weems an enslaved teenager who dressed as a male carriage driver and escaped to Canada where she was a student of the Buxton mission school.
- Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site, a historic site built on the Dawn settlement, another former slave settlement in Ontario
