Windsor's Community Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1958 |
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| Location | Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | historic museum |
The Windsor Community Museum is a cool place in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where you can explore history! It shows off old items, called artifacts, that tell the story of Windsor. The museum is inside the François Baby House, a special building from 1812. It was built by François Baby, an important person from a French-Canadian family. Today, this house is known as a National Historic Site, which means it's a very important place in Canada's history.
The museum started in 1958. A local historian and merchant named George Fortune Macdonald helped create it. Today, the City of Windsor helps run the museum. The museum also has an "Interpretation Centre" behind the Duff Baby House. This center is mostly used for fun and educational programs for visitors.
Contents
How the Museum Got Its Name
The museum has had a few different names over the years!
Starting as Hiram Walker Historical Museum
When the museum first opened, it was called the Hiram Walker Historical Museum. This was because a company called Hiram Walker and Sons Limited gave a lot of money to help fix up the Baby House.
Changing to François Baby House: Windsor's Community Museum
In 1991, the museum's name changed to "François Baby House: Windsor's Community Museum." People wanted to make sure visitors didn't get the museum confused with the Hiram Walker company. Also, the old name didn't really explain what the museum was all about.
Becoming Windsor's Community Museum
Then, in 1996, the name became "Windsor's Community Museum." This name helped show that the museum was for everyone in the community.
Today: Museum Windsor
Finally, in 2016, the museum became "Museum Windsor." This happened when a second location, the Chimczuk Museum, opened up. Now, both locations are part of Museum Windsor!
What You Can See at the Museum
The François Baby House now holds more than 15,000 artifacts and important documents. These items are super important to the history of Windsor and the larger Essex County, Ontario area. They help tell the stories of the people and events that shaped the region.
The Battle of Windsor (1838)
In 1966, a special plaque was placed at the museum. It tells the story of an important event called the Battle of Windsor, which happened in 1838.
What Happened in the Battle
Early on December 4, 1838, a group of about 140 people crossed the river from Detroit. These were American and Canadian supporters of a leader named William Lyon Mackenzie. They landed near where the museum is today.
They captured and burned a nearby building used by soldiers. Then, they took over Windsor. But soon, about 130 local soldiers, led by Colonel John Prince, met them. The soldiers quickly defeated the invaders.
Aftermath of the Battle
Some of the invaders were captured. Colonel Prince ordered four of them to be punished right away. This caused a lot of discussion in both Canada and the United States. The other captured people were put on trial. Six of them were punished, eighteen were sent far away to a special colony in Tasmania, and sixteen were sent back to their home country.
Museum Connections
The Museum Windsor works with several other important groups. These connections help the museum share its history and learn from others.
- Canadian Museums Association: This group helps museums across Canada.
- Canadian Heritage Information Network: This network helps museums share information and use technology.
- Virtual Museum of Canada: This is an online museum where you can explore Canadian history from anywhere!
See also
In Spanish: Museo de la comunidad de Windsor para niños
