Erland Lee Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Ridge Road in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. |
| Type | Historic Home |
| Official name: Erland Lee (Museum) Home | |
| Designated: | 2002 |
The Erland Lee (Museum) Home is a special place in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It sits on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, which is a long cliff. This old farmhouse is important because it's where the very first Women's Institute started in 1897. The Women's Institute is an international group that helps educate women in rural areas.
Contents
A Home Through History
The oldest part of the Erland Lee Home is a log cabin built way back in 1808. Later, in 1873, a new part was added to the cabin. This addition was built in a style called Carpenter Gothic. You can see this style in the steep roofs, fancy "gingerbread" trim, and the special wooden planks on the outside.
The Lee Family's Legacy
The Lee family lived in this house for a very long time, from 1808 until 1970. The house was first recognized as a historic place in 1961. Then, in 1972, it opened its doors as a museum for everyone to visit. The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario have owned and run the museum ever since. In 1995, the house became a historic home under the Ontario Heritage Act. Later, in 2002, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
The museum was closed for a while in 2010 but happily reopened on April 21, 2013.
What You Can See Inside
Inside the museum, you can explore three floors filled with furniture and decorations from the Victorian era. The museum shares the story of the Lee family and how the Women's Institutes began in 1897. For example, you can still see the dining room table where Janet Lee wrote the first rules for the Women's Institute. Next to the farmhouse, there's an old carriage house from 1873. It has two floors of exhibits about local history.
As of late 2024, the museum does not have trained museum staff on site. However, it continues to be used for events and helps support the Women's Institute movement.
Images for kids
-
The old carriage house
-
The museum gift shop
-
A view over the Niagara Escarpment from the museum
-
The main building of the Erland Lee Museum
See also
In Spanish: Museo Erland Lee para niños
- Associated Country Women of the World
