Guelph Civic Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1967 |
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| Location | 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8 |
| Visitors | 33,000+ (2010) |
| Public transit access | Norfolk at Albion. Stop ID: 1101 |
The Guelph Civic Museum is a fun place to explore the history of Guelph, Ontario. It's a museum that shows off the culture and natural history of the area. The museum helps people learn about Guelph's past through cool exhibits and special events. In 2012, it moved to a new home at 52 Norfolk Street. Before that, it was in a three-story building at 6 Dublin Street South.
The Guelph Civic Museum shares Guelph’s story with permanent and changing displays. It has a super fun and interactive family gallery, plus special activities. The museum is located in the beautiful, newly fixed-up Loretto Convent. This building sits on a hill on Norfolk Street, right next to the famous Church of Our Lady. Inside, you'll find over 30,000 artifacts. These items bring Guelph’s past to life! Many of them were given by people who live in the city.
The museum closed its doors on June 30, 2011. This was so it could get ready to move to its new building. It then reopened at 52 Norfolk Street in January 2012.
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The Museum's Journey Through Time
The idea for a museum in Guelph started in 1964. A group called the Museum Board of Management wanted to save important parts of Guelph's history. Even before that, in 1962, Guelph’s Historical Society was already collecting items.
Guelph had temporary exhibits in different places before the museum officially opened. In December 1967, it opened at the Winter Fair Horse Stables. This spot is now the Guelph Farmer's Market. In 1965, a sewing exhibit was shown at the Delhi Street Recreation Centre. Other displays were at the Guelph Public Library in 1967. That same year, a "summer museum" was set up at 98 Wyndam Street.
From 1967, the museum stayed in the old stables. But by the 1970s, it was getting too crowded. It needed more space! So, in 1977, the city bought the building at 6 Dublin Street. On May 18, 1980, which was International Museum Day, it opened as the new Guelph Civic Museum.
It seems like the museum always needs more room! In 2011, it moved again to an even bigger place. This new home is the Loretto Convent. It's right next to the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate downtown.
The Old Dublin Street Building
The building at 6 Dublin Street South was home to the museum for over 30 years. It has a lot of history itself! William Thomas designed it, and it was built in 1847. It's made of limestone and is about 11,000 square feet in size. The building was first owned by the Robert Day family.
Over the years, it was many different things. It was a tavern and a hotel. It was also a boarding house for the Ontario Agricultural College. Later, it was used by the Great War Veterans Association. Finally, the Canadian Legion and the Knights of Columbus used it as a meeting hall. The city bought it in 1977.
Remembering John McCrae
In 2015, a special statue was put in front of the Guelph Civic Museum. It's a sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae by Ruth Abernethy. John McCrae is shown as an army officer, with his medical bag nearby. He looks like he is writing. The statue also shows the damage of a battlefield. At his feet, you can see poppies. These flowers are a symbol to remember World War I and all other wars.
McCrae House is another part of the Guelph Museums. It's at 108 Water Street. This is where John McCrae was born! He wrote the famous poem In Flanders Fields during World War I. He was a very important person in Canada's history. His house was saved so people could remember him and his life.
What to See at the Museum
The Guelph Civic Museum is a major attraction in Guelph. It tells the story of Guelph from its very beginning to today. You can learn through many exhibits, hands-on displays, and special events. The museum has different areas, like permanent and changing exhibits. There are also rooms for programs and meetings. Behind the scenes, where visitors don't usually go, is where they store all the artifacts!
Amazing Exhibits
The Guelph Civic Museum has about 40,000 artifacts! This huge collection includes photos and many old items. You can see furniture, fabrics, toys, and folk art. The museum also shows and stores objects related to human history. Plus, there are decorative arts like pottery and tapestries. The museum has several galleries. These include the Royal City Families Gallery, galleries about Guelph's local history, and two spaces for temporary exhibits.
How to Visit
Here are the admission fees for the Guelph Civic Museum:
- $5.00 for general admission.
- $15.00 for Families (this includes 2 adults and up to 4 children).
- Children under 4 years old are free.
Your ticket to the Guelph Civic Museum also includes admission to McCrae House!
The Children's Museum Experience
The Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet Growing Up in Guelph Children's Museum used to be on the first floor of the old Civic Museum. That was at the 6 Dublin Street location. It was created by Vilnis Cultural Design Works and the museum staff. They did research and talked to children from local schools to design it.
The Children's Museum had interactive exhibits. It was made so kids could play and learn about Guelph's history. It even had monthly themes for some of its exhibits and events. In the Guelph Civic Museum's new home at the Loretto Convent, the Children's Museum is now called the Royal City Families Gallery. It's twice as big as it was before!
Supporting the Museum
Many people and groups help the Guelph Civic Museum. They give money to help the museum grow and offer great programs. For example, in 2010, a man named Hugh Guthrie left a large donation to the museum. This encouraged many other businesses and people to donate too.
The City of Guelph and the Provincial and Federal Governments also provide important financial support. This helps the museum keep its doors open and share Guelph's history with everyone.
