General admission to all 10 Toronto history museums is permanently free to provide everyone an opportunity to fully participate in cultural heritage and spaces, but some exhibitions and events may carry a charge where noted. Free guided tours are also available, but each site has a different tour schedule so make sure you check its website in advance. Operating hours vary by site so please check with each site's website (see below).
Here are the 10 Toronto History Museums:
(i) in Central Toronto:
- Fort York National Historic Site: Preserved as a 43-acre archeological park, Fort York is where British soldiers, First Nations warriors and Upper Canadian militiamen stood together against the United States and its mission to capture Toronto in the War of 1812. The bloody Battle of York that ensued was a dark and dramatic moment in the history of the city.
- Mackenzie House (open for drop-in printshop workshops and pre-registered neighbourhood tours): What role did William Lyon Mackenzie play in the history of Toronto? Mackenzie House looks to explore Victorian Toronto and the contrary and controversial man who had such an impact on our city – from journalist to mayor, mayor to exile, exile to politician.
- Market Gallery: Steps above the bustling St. Lawrence Market lies the Market Gallery – an intimate, historic exhibition space. What was once Toronto’s first purpose-built City Council Chambers now houses rotating exhibits that dive deep into the history of our city.
- Spadina Museum: Spadina Museum sits atop a ravine overlooking Toronto. Today this dazzling mansion is a portal into the triumphs and tribulations of Toronto from 1900 to the 1930s. Get a glimpse into this era through the perspective of the affluent Austin family and the people who worked in service within their home.
(ii) in North Toronto:
- Gibson House: Return to a home you never knew you missed with a visit to Gibson House, a 19th-century farmhouse hidden between the high rises of North York. Step across the threshold and back in time to the 1850s kitchen. Feel welcomed by the warm aroma of wood smoke and beeswax. Explore how David Gibson—Scottish immigrant, land surveyor, farmer, politician and rebel—put his mark on a community, a city and the province.
- Zion Schoolhouse (open for special events and private bookings): Behind the worn green doors of this museum is a school frozen in time. The wooden desks, still carved with messages from the past and names of former students, sit empty waiting for you. Zion Schoolhouse offers visitors a chance to experience a day at school circa 1910. Imagine what it’s like to take class not only with your friends, but every kid in the neighbourhood including all your siblings.
(iii) in East Toronto:
- Scarborough Museum: Nestled in the heart of Thomson Memorial Park are the four heritage buildings that make up Scarborough Museum. History and daily life come together in an engaging community space that has become the heart of the park. Hear stories, new and old, that have shaped the ever changing community of Scarborough.
- Todmorden Mills: There is a secret place hidden in the Don River Valley, between highways and subways, under bridges and behind trees; Todmorden Mills is a cross-section of Toronto, stacked century-by-century, and layer-by-layer upon itself. From an Indigenous waterway to industrial hub, from a prisoner of war camp to a modern arts and theatre venue; each community has made its mark and added another layer to explore.
(iv) in West Toronto:
- Colborne Lodge: Creativity and innovation inspired the original owners of Colborne Lodge, John and Jemima Howard, to leave High Park as a legacy that all Torontonians benefit from today. Built by John Howard and Jemima, two painters, one also an architect and engineer, this Regency-era lakeside summer cottage still holds original collections of their art, architectural drawings, and inventions as well as stories of their eccentric lives. From 19th century science, technology, and medicine, to illness, adultery, and reported hauntings, Colborne Lodge truly has a story to engage all visitors.
- Montgomery’s Inn: Built in the 1830s to shelter travellers, Montgomery’s Inn brought people together from the surrounding area and beyond over food, drink, games, and more. More than 170 years later, it’s still doing just that. This lively museum gives visitors the opportunity to see how a 19th-century Canadian inn was run from ballroom to bedrooms, with a kitchen and bar still in full working order.
Enjoy exploring Toronto's history museums!