Niagara on the Lake Museum
43 Castlereagh Street L0S1J0 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada

Any guesses what this item is in our collection?! Take a guess and see if you were right . . . .... It’s firefighting equipment! To extinguish a fire using this contraption would require three peopletwo to pump the water out of the trough and one to point the hose at the fire. See more

Museums are a vital part of Ontario’s education system, supporting skills in reading, science, math, and critical thinking! #MayIsMuseumMonth #MuseumsConnectON #Education

More great memories of Niagara-on-the-Lake from local legend Hope Bradley! We recorded some of Hope’s memories and excerpts can be found at memoriesofniagara.wordpress.com

Great local family history!

Online purchases over $50 made on November 29th - MUSEUM STORE SUNDAY - will receive a free container of heritage hot chocolate or tin of loose tea while supplies last! Check out some great heritage toys for sale in our online shop! https://notlmuseumshop.square.site/

We have been featured (along with a number of other amazing locations in NOTL) in TravelAwaits article on "How to Spend an Incredible Weekend in Picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake"! Check out the other "must-sees" listed and don't forget to #supportlocal businesses and organizations! Shaw Festival Niagara Pumphouse Fort George National Historic Site McFarland House Museum Balzac's Coffee Il Gelato di CarlottaCOWSThe Garrison House Oban Inn, Spa and Restaurant The Pillar and Post https://www.travelawaits.com//things-to-do-in-niagara-on-t

In October, Ron Dale lead a presentation and discussion (via the Famous and Infamous program) about Benjamin Lett, who is mainly remembered as the man who blew up Brock's Monument. Here is an audio recording of his talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdHJMPpSQhsat

Museum Store Sunday is a great way to support your local cultural institutions and shop local this season! Check out some of the wonderful gifts we have for Mom in our gift shop! Online purchases over $50 made on November 29th receive a free gift while supplies last! https://notlmuseumshop.square.site/ #shopmuseumstores

Here's just a few more items from our Holiday House Silent Auction at Regal Florist & Garden Centre. Check these out...

For those of you who may be pulling your boats out for the season, enjoy this photograph of Mae in the Niagara-on-the-Lake marina, circa 1960s. Mae has quite the balancing skills while fishing off the dock frame in the basin.

Navigating the Waters of Indigenous Art - Virtual Workshop Series CLAYTON SAMUEL KING Virtual Workshop 3 Mon 23 Nov 2020, 7-8pm... Born and raised in St. Catharines, Clayton currently lives in Barrie, ON. A graduate of Fine Arts from Fanshawe College in London, ON Clayton works predominantly with acrylics, but occasionally works with other mediums like photography, sculpture, graphite, ink, and traditional First Nation's crafts. Clayton has displayed his art in six solo exhibitions, forty-two selected group exhibitions and is the owner of his own art studio, White Bear Art. Clayton works with schools across Ontario by offering cultural interpretive workshops that help bridge an understanding of First Nations art and history. Clayton is of Bodwewadomi descent and is a member of Beausoleil First Nation in Georgian Bay. _ Part of a three-part free workshop series Featured Artists: Brian Kon / Jill Lunn / Clayton Samuel King The First Ontario Performing Art Centre is pleased to present three accomplished Niagara artists to lead participants on a journey Navigating the Waters of Indigenous Art. Brian Kon, Jill Lunn and Clayton Samuel King will each lead a free virtual workshop where they will share their art and provide their unique and personal perspectives of caring for Turtle Island and the water we all share. During each virtual workshop, artists will share their teachings and will provide information about their art style, show samples of their work and share what inspires them in telling their own stories through their art. Workshops are intended to be completed in two parts in the following format: Part One Virtual workshop - artists will share their teachings, style and techniques. During the live one-hour stream broadcasts, participants will have the ability to present questions to the artist at the end of their presentations. Part Two Participants will use the teachings from the artist led session to create their own painting. This is an independent participant activity that can be completed at your own pace. Once completed, participants are encouraged to submit photographs of their work to the FirstOntario Performing Art Centre where their art will be curated and entered into a virtual gallery. Please send photos of your final creation to Sara Palmieri, Programming & Marketing Manager at [email protected] by Monday 30 November at 4pm to be included in the virtual exhibit. These workshops are FREE for the community. Registration is encouraged but not required. The first 30 people to register for any of the workshops will receive a complimentary canvas board and paints. These packages will be available the day prior to each workshop via curbside pick-up at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. These free events will be live streamed through the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Facebook and YouTube channels. Sign up for one, or all three of the art workshops at www.FirstOntarioPAC.ca BRIAN KON Virtual Workshop 1 Sat 14 Nov, 10-11am Born in the heart of the Métis Homeland (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Brian moved to Niagara Falls, ON in 1996, where he continues to live today as an active member of Niagara’s Indigenous community. As a visual artist, Brian’s art pays homage to the intricate beadwork of his Cree/Métis ancestors through his paintings. Working in acrylics, Brian uses the quill end of a feather as his paint brush. His works are on display across Canada, including a current piece on extended display in Ontario’s legislature. Proud of what his art represents, Brian provides workshops in schools and throughout community as a way of telling the story of Métis people. JILL LUNN Virtual Workshop 2 Tues 17 Nov, 6-7pm Born and raised in Niagara/Hamilton Area, Jill currently resides in Jordan Station, ON. Trained in visual arts and music from an early age, Jill is a multi-talented artist as a painter, pianist and violinist. While her favorite medium is acrylic paint on canvas, Jill lets her artistic expressions emerge through sculpture, multi-media collage and photography. As the daughter of well-known Artist, Audrey Bernice Shimizu, Jill paints about a range of subjects including Intergenerational trauma, Aboriginal Issues and Healing. Jill’s original pieces hang in private collections as well as in agencies and businesses within the Niagara/Hamilton Region. Presented by the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre In partnership with the Niagara Catholic District School Board, with funding support from the Niagara Region’s Niagara Investment in Culture Program. #FirstOntarioPAC #CelebrationOfNations #TheArtsLiveHere

Digital Doors Open: Grace United Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0-RSNFGr24&t=134s

History in the Vineyard Event Changes to Take-Out Only! Join the Friends of Fort George, the Niagara Historical Society, Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery and Parks Canada for the second annual History in the Vineyard fundraiser at Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery. We are very excited to be involved with Ravine on December 10th, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Niagara Historical Society says Amy Klassen from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.... With COVID restrictions, and for everyone's safety, this is strictly a take-out event. This year, there are also 2 additional chefs, from Ruffino’s Pasta Bar and Grill and the Garrison House, providing delicious food options for your gourmet three-course meal! As a bonus, for every two meals ordered, you will receive a COMPLIMENTARY bottle of Ravine Sand and Gravel wine. The three restaurants have prepared a very special menu with lots of choices. The food will be distributed in special containers that can go directly in the oven to be heated up" notes Tony Chisholm, President of the Friends of Fort George. The evening will also feature, on YouTube, an historical presentation about Christmas through the ages, including how it was celebrated here in Niagara-on-the-Lake in times past. This will be special broadcast for those who have booked the take-out dinner. This event not only supports these local businesses but two important Niagara-on-the-Lake charities. Tickets for this special event are now on sale here: https://www.canadahelps.org//even/history-in-the-vineyard/ Tickets are $100/person, and include a $40.00 tax receipt. We hope you will participate and enjoy some food, wine, history and merriment! Contact the Friends of Fort George (905-468-6621 or [email protected]) or the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum (905-468-3912 or [email protected]) for more information All proceeds from the evening will help to support ongoing projects of the Friends of Fort George, and the Niagara Historical Society/ Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum. (Pictured are Chef Ryan Crawford, Ruffino's, Paul Harber, Ravine, and Chef David Watt, Garrison House)

A great way to shop local this holiday season is to purchase something from a museum! Museum Store Sunday is November 29, 2020. Revenues generated by museum stores are deposited into the operating budgets of the parent organizations, providing economic sustainability for the museum and cultural engagement for the community.... Check out what we have available in our Museum shop either in person or simply shop online here: https://notlmuseumshop.square.site/ We have Christmas stock 50% off as well as other sale items. Plus a wonderful selection of books and heritage gifts.

Louie is enjoying this beautiful October weather. Today he is checking out this living memorial that is dedicated to the contributions and sacrifices made by Six Nations and Native Allies throughout the War of 1812. Where is Louie?

We've opened doors to several sites in NOTL this week as part of Doors Open Ontario! This year, since we could not host large crowds, Doors Open went virtual. We worked with Niagara College Broadcasting students to create videos of our participating sites! Check them out at https://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/en/niagara-on-the-lake

Today marks the 208th anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights and the death of Major General Sir Isaac Brock. Although we can't celebrate in person this year, we hope you will join us throughout the day as we virtually commemorate this important date with you!

The final Cemetery Story of this digital series is here! We hope you have enjoyed learning about NOTL's history through the lives of its former residents. Our last tale is from Edith Hutchins played by Amanda Balyk. Amanda just joined our staff on contract for a year and stepped up when we needed a last minute fill-in! https://youtu.be/VLuxoD18c5o

Louie is checking out a local winery! This winery had the first grapevines planted in NOTL to make wine, where is Louie?

One of our most memorable stories from the cemetery in our very first year was that of Matilda Boulton. Here she is played by volunteer Pam Mundy: https://youtu.be/gYPKVgAhNhQ

A great initiative from our friends at Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Uh oh, Louie is looking like he wants to go for a swim at today's tour spot! This water source was once home to lots of mills, where is Louie?

Check out some neat items we have on sale on our online gift shop! Grab some early stocking stuffers or something for yourself. Sale Christmas items will be coming in a few weeks! https://notlmuseumshop.square.site/shop/sale/15

Another visit to the cemetery where we meet William Kirby and Eliza Whitmore played by our volunteers, Tom & Mary Jane Catcher: https://youtu.be/0ZIU3jO_FFo

After a little delay, we will share 2 cemetery stories with you today. First up is John Redhead played by volunteer Geoff Senson: https://youtu.be/ZnPJ4GlMku4

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, owned and operated by the Niagara Historical Society, is a team of staff and volunteers which passionately collects, preserves, researches, educates and promotes the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake and its communities. We inspire an appreciation of local history through engaging programs and exhibitions. Job Title: Curatorial Intern Duration: November 1, 2020 March 20, 2021 (18 weeks)...Continue reading

Louie is checking out this local cemetery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This cemetery is located behind where Crossroads founder, George Lawrence’s meeting house was located (since been demolished). Where’s Louie?

The final Cemetery Story of this digital series is here! We hope you have enjoyed learning about NOTL's history through the lives of its former residents. Our last tale is from Edith Hutchins played by Amanda Balyk. Amanda just joined our staff on contract for a year and stepped up when we needed a last minute fill-in! https://youtu.be/VLuxoD18c5o

Our next story from the cemetery is from our First World War Nurse, played by volunteer Denise Ascenzo: https://youtu.be/RbaWbzzBm50

Kate Crooks #BecauseOfYou we have an understanding of what the pre-industrialization flora was like in southwestern Ontario. #WomensHistoryMonth #NotlHistory #CdnHistory #MakingHerMark

Happy 251st Birthday to Major General Sir Isaac Brock!!

Sunday's Cemetery Story is that of Erland Field as told by our Gravedigger Stephen Steele. https://youtu.be/p9H-J7z-Gjg

Ok, we have sorted out the tech issues, so now the Cemetery Stories of Niagara-on-the-Lake continue! Meet Henrietta Sewell played by volunteer Briar Collins. https://youtu.be/mOzvULVteB8

Chloe Cooley #BecauseOfYou legislation was put forward to gradually abolish slavery in Upper Canada. Your defiance in 1793 changed the course of life for generations of people of African descent in the years that followed. #WomensHistoryMonth #NotlHistory #CdnHistory #MakingHerMark