Huronia Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1947 |
|---|---|
| Location | Midland, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | history museum and heritage village |
The Huronia Museum is a cool place to visit in Midland, Ontario, Canada. It has a main building filled with amazing collections and an art gallery. There's also a special outdoor village that shows what life was like for the Huron/Ouendat (Wendat) people long ago.
The museum is open all year round. It has almost a million items to see! About 20,000 people visit every year. You can learn about Native history and the history of boats and the sea. The museum also offers fun learning programs for students and adults.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
The Huronia Museum first opened its doors on July 1, 1947. It started in a big wooden house that belonged to a famous local businessman, James Playfair.
The main museum building you see today opened on July 1, 1967. This new building was part of Canada's 100th birthday celebrations. It's located in Little Lake Park, right next to the Huron/Ouendat (Wendat) Village.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has many interesting exhibits for you to explore.
Art and History Gallery
In 1976, the Historic Art of Huronia Gallery opened inside the museum. Here, you can see art by famous Canadian artists like David Milne and members of the Group of Seven, such as A.Y. Jackson. There's also modern art and special art from the Ouendat and Ojibway First Nations.
Local Stories and Collections
Other exhibits tell stories about the Georgian Bay area. You can learn about:
- Lighthouses that guided ships
- Shipwrecks hidden under the water
- The history of boats and sailing
- Military history
The museum also has a huge collection of photos taken by John W. Bald, a professional photographer from Midland.
Exploring the Huron Village
The Huron Village is a special outdoor area at the museum. It shows what life was like for the Huron people between the years 1500 and 1600, before Europeans arrived.
What's in the Village?
When you visit the village, you can see:
- A shaman's lodge
- A wigwam
- Traditional masks
- Racks for drying fish
- A longhouse, where families lived
- A corn field
- A bone pit
- A fur drying rack
- A burial rack
How the Village Was Built
The Huron Village was created by W. Wilfrid Jury. He was a director at the Museum of Indian Archaeology and Pioneer Life at the University of Western Ontario. The village is based on his studies of an ancient Huron site near Midland. It first opened in 1956.
In May 2007, a fire sadly damaged a big part of the village. But it has been rebuilt and is now open for everyone to visit again!
Museum Connections
The Huronia Museum works with other important groups. These include:
Images for kids
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Huronia Museum in Little Lake Park, Midland, 1958
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Huronia Museum in Little Lake Park, Midland, 1958
