On Saturday May 20th, Muskoka Heritage Place will open for the 2023 season. Whether you visit for a few hours or plan a whole day experience, there is something for everyone to enjoy this spring and summer such as the scenic train ride along the Muskoka River, discovering the museums, and exploring pioneer village.
Experience our 31-acre pioneer village, featuring several family homes, a working blacksmith, general store, schoolhouse, church, woodworking shop, and barn that portrays the history of early settlers in Muskoka during the 1880s.
While exploring the village, meet the friendly costumed narrators and try your hand at candle dipping, carding wool, bending iron, sampling a freshly baked scone, taking a lesson in the schoolhouse, dressing like a pioneer, meeting the farm animals, or playing pioneer games.
A visit to Muskoka Heritage Place isn’t complete without a scenic ride on the open-air train that travels 1-km along the Muskoka River to the shores of Fairy Lake. Before your visit be sure to check out the train schedule, as train times and operation days change throughout the season. In spring, the Portage Flyer Diesel locomotive operates until Canada Day on select days, and the Portage Flyer Steam Train operates in the summer from Canada Day on select days, until Labour Day. For the most up-to-date schedule, please visit muskokaheritageplace.ca/hours.
While you are there, don’t forget to explore the two local museums. The Muskoka Museum, a brief history of Huntsville/Muskoka from 7,000 years ago to around 1950, displays “Muskoka at Work and Play” and our feature exhibit “A Tough Go” highlighting the difficulties faced by the first permanent settlers. The Steam Museum features “Full Steam Ahead: By Rail and By Water” which depicts the early history of steam travel in the area.
In celebration of May as Museum Month, Muskoka Heritage Place will host a special event on May 18th which is International Museum Day. Patrick Boyer, a local author and historian, will be at the pioneer village at 7:00 pm to discuss Muskoka Heritage Place’s importance in the community, speak on current issues affecting heritage and promote his new book, “Heritage Nuggets“.
Muskoka Heritage Place is open daily from May 20th to October 7th, with hours of operation from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more details, or the train schedule, please visit muskokaheritageplace.ca or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.