Muskoka Lakes Museum facts for kids
| Established | July 2, 1967 |
|---|---|
| Location | Port Carling, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | History |
| Founder | Marion Catto |
The Muskoka Lakes Museum is a cool place to learn about the history of the Muskoka Lakes area. It's a special museum that isn't run for profit, meaning it's all about sharing knowledge. You can find it in the pretty village of Port Carling, in Ontario, Canada.
Inside the museum, there are six different rooms, called galleries. Each gallery shows off something unique! You can discover the stories of First Nations people and early settlers. There are also exhibits about boating, old cottages, and fun resorts in the Muskoka Lakes region. Plus, there's a gallery just for local art. While some items are super old (like from 8000 B.C.E.), the museum mostly focuses on the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.
The museum opens for the summer season every year. It starts around the Victoria Day weekend and stays open until the Canadian Thanksgiving Day weekend.
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Fun Activities at the Museum
The Muskoka Lakes Museum offers lots of exciting things for kids and families!
Programs for Young Explorers
- School Group Visits: If your school visits, you can join special programs designed just for students.
- Summer Day Camps: During the summer, kids can join day-camper programs. It's a great way to spend your holidays!
- Birthday Parties: You can even have a themed birthday party at the museum.
- Activity Programs: Look out for scavenger hunts and interactive exhibits. These make learning about history super fun!
Explore Port Carling
- Walking Tours: In July and August, you can join a walking tour of Port Carling village. It happens every week.
- Summer Lectures: For older kids and adults, there are interesting talks every Wednesday evening during the summer.
Museum History: How it Started
The idea for the Muskoka Lakes Museum began with a person named Marion Catto. She started the Port Carling Historical Society on September 9, 1961.
Opening Day and Early Growth
The museum first opened its doors on July 2, 1967. Back then, it was called "The Port Carling Museum." The original sign from above the entrance is now displayed inside the museum's Marine Room.
As the museum grew, it needed more space for all its cool artifacts.
- In 1972, an addition was built and named the Catto Wing. This was to honor Marion Catto and her husband.
- More additions were made in 1976 and again in 1977.
The Historic Log Cabin
In 1982, the museum bought an old log cabin from Alex Brown. This cabin was built way back in 1875 by the Hall family. They built it in a village called Glen Orchard after moving from London, Ontario.
- The cabin was carefully taken apart in Glen Orchard.
- Then, it was moved and put back together at the museum in 1983.
- That same year, another addition was built to become the museum's gift shop.
The historic Log Cabin officially opened to the public on July 14, 1984.
A New Name for a Bigger Focus
In 1989, the museum's leaders decided to change its name. They renamed it the "Muskoka Lakes Museum." This new name showed that the museum wanted to represent and serve the entire Muskoka Lakes District, not just the village of Port Carling.
