Markham Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | Markham, Ontario, Canada |
The Markham Museum is a super cool place to explore history! It's an open-air museum in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Imagine a huge outdoor space, about 25 acres big, filled with old buildings and amazing objects from Markham's past.
This museum helps us remember what Markham was like long ago, especially when it was a small farming village before it grew into a busy city. It's a fantastic way to step back in time and see how people lived!
Contents
Discovering Markham's Past
The Markham Museum is like a time machine! It has almost 30 historic buildings that were carefully moved here from different parts of Markham. These buildings show you what life was like for people living in the area many years ago.
What Can You See?
You can explore all sorts of old buildings, including:
- Houses where families lived
- Big barns and sheds
- A train station, just like the ones from old movies
- A schoolhouse where kids learned
- A general store where people bought everything they needed
- A church
- A blacksmith shop, where metal was shaped
- A harness shop for horse gear
- A saw mill for cutting wood
- Even a cider mill!
One of the oldest buildings you can see is the Hoover House. It was built way back in 1824 by a Mennonite family who came from Pennsylvania. Imagine living in a house that's almost 200 years old!
How the Museum Started
The Markham Museum first opened its doors in 1971. The main offices and archives are located in the old Mount Joy School, which was built in 1907. This school is special because it's the only original building that wasn't moved to the museum site.
The museum is easy to find at 9350 Highway 48 (also known as Markham Road or York Regional Road 68). It's right on the northwest corner of 16th Avenue (York Regional Road 73).
Mount Joy's Legacy
The name "Mount Joy" is important to the area's history. Besides the old school, you'll also find the nearby Mount Joy train and bus station, and the Mount Joy Community Centre. These places all share the name, keeping a piece of local history alive.
Visiting the Museum
The Markham Museum is open all year round, so you can visit anytime! It's a great place for families, school trips, or anyone who wants to learn about history. You can also rent parts of the museum for special events.
There's even an important sign, called an Ontario Historical Plaque, right in front of the museum. It was put there by the province to celebrate Markham's important role in Ontario's history and heritage. It's a reminder of how much history is packed into this amazing place!
