Toronto Maritime Museum facts for kids
Stanley Barracks' Officers' Mess used as the Marine Museum
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| Established | 1958 |
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| Dissolved | 2008 |
| Location | Stanley Barracks 1958–1998 Queens Quay, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1999–2008 |
| Type | Maritime museum |
The Toronto Maritime Museum was a special place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was also known by other names like the Toronto Waterfront Museum or The Pier Museum. Before 2000, it was called the Marine Museum or Marine Museum of Upper Canada.
This museum celebrated Toronto's amazing waterfront history. It also showed how important trade on the Great Lakes was. The museum helped people understand how shipping helped Toronto grow into the big city it is today.
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Exploring Toronto's Maritime History
The Toronto Maritime Museum first opened its doors in 1959. It was originally named the Marine Museum of Upper Canada. A special guest, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, helped open it on August 26, 1959.
The First Home: Stanley Barracks
The museum's first home was in a historic building. This building was the Officers' Quarters at Stanley Barracks. Stanley Barracks is located on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition.
Inside, the museum displayed many items from Toronto's past. This included cool model ships that showed how boats looked long ago. Outside, visitors could see the real tugboat Ned Hanlan. There was also a huge ship anchor and a ship's propeller. For a while, an old train engine, locomotive 6213, was also stored outside.
Moving to the Waterfront
In 2000, the museum moved to a new spot. Its new home was at Pier 4 on Queens Quay West. This location was a former warehouse built in the 1930s. Moving closer to downtown made it easier for visitors and tourists to reach. The museum continued to show off its collection of historic model ships there. The City of Toronto's Culture Division managed the museum.
The Museum's Closure and New Homes for Exhibits
Sadly, the Toronto Maritime Museum closed in 2008. Its exhibits are now kept safely in storage. Organizers are hoping to find money to open the museum again someday.
The outdoor displays also found new homes. The old train engine, CN Locomotive 6213, moved to the Toronto Railway Museum. It has been repaired and is now kept indoors. The tugboat Ned Hanlan moved to Hanlan's Point Ferry Terminal in 2012. This terminal is on the Toronto Islands.
The buildings that once housed the museum have also changed. The Harbourfront building is now a craft beer store and restaurant. The old barracks building is now part of the Hotel X Toronto project.
Museum Connections
The Toronto Maritime Museum worked with other important groups. It was connected to the CMA. It also worked with the CHIN and the Virtual Museum of Canada. These connections helped the museum share its history and learn from others.
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