Mackenzie House facts for kids
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| Established | 1936 |
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| Location | 82 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| Type | Municipal Museum |
Mackenzie House is a historic home and museum on Bond Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It was the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, who was a very important person in Canada's history. He was the first mayor of Toronto and the leader of a major event called the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.
Today, the house is a museum run by the City of Toronto. It gives visitors a peek into what life was like in a city home during the Victorian era (the 1860s). It also tells the story of Mackenzie and his family.
Contents
History of the House
A Gift for Mackenzie
In 1858, friends and supporters of William Lyon Mackenzie bought this three-story brick house for him. At the time, Mackenzie was not in good health and didn't have much money. This house gave him a place to live for the rest of his life. He lived here with his family until he passed away in 1861.
After his death, the family faced money troubles. The house was taken to pay off debts in 1864. However, a local businessman named John Taylor bought the house. He kindly allowed Mackenzie's wife, Isabel, and their children to continue living there without paying rent.
A few years later, in 1868, Isabel was able to buy the house back. She used money given to her by the government for Mackenzie's earlier work in London.
Saving the House
The Mackenzie family owned the house for many years. By 1936, most of the similar houses on Bond Street were being torn down. But Mackenzie House was saved because of its connection to Canadian history.
One reason it was saved was because of Mackenzie's grandson, William Lyon Mackenzie King. He was Canada's longest-serving prime minister and was in office at the time. In the 1960s, the house was officially turned into a museum to teach people about its history.
The house has been carefully restored to look like it did in the 1860s. In 2021, the house had a flood, but it has since been refurbished and remains open for tours.
Architecture and Grounds
Mackenzie House was built in the Georgian style. This style is known for its simple, balanced look and brick walls. Even though the other houses in its original row are gone, Mackenzie House still stands as a great example of 19th-century Toronto homes.
Next to the house, you can see large stone panels. These panels were once part of the Memorial Arch that stood near the Honeymoon Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The arch was taken down in the 1960s, and these panels were moved to Mackenzie House in 1974.
The Museum Today
Mackenzie House is one of ten historic museums run by the City of Toronto. It tells the story of William Lyon Mackenzie, not just as a family man, but also as a politician and newspaper editor. The museum shows what life was like in Toronto from the 1860s to the 1890s. It also has programs about other important figures, like Black Canadians and Mary Ann Shadd.
What Can You See Inside?
The inside of the house is set up to look just as it would have in the 1860s. You can learn about Mackenzie's fight for a fairer government in Canada. You can also see a re-creation of his print shop.
The print shop has a real 19th-century printing press. This shows the kind of tools Mackenzie used to publish his newspaper, the Colonial Advocate. The museum offers tours and fun events for families and students.
In 2025, the museum started working with Dundee Culture, a group that promotes the city of Dundee in Scotland, which was Mackenzie's birthplace.
Gallery
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The inside of Mackenzie House shows what life was like in Toronto during the late 1800s.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Mackenzie para niños
