Top Museum/Art Gallery/Historic Site

Casa Loma was first built in 1914 by esteemed financier Sir Henry Pellatt. As Toronto’s majestic Castle, Casa Loma is regarded as a treasured historic site and heritage landmark. Today, Casa Loma is one of Toronto’s top tourist attractions and hospitality venues. Visit www.casaloma.ca for details.  

 
Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum is the largest community museum in Ontario with a large feature gallery which showcases local and travelling exhibits from around the world, a temporary gallery, and our permanent gallery which tells the story of Waterloo Region. Located on the second floor of the main museum gallery is the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame. The second floor also contains a War Memorial with a visual list of the names of all those from Waterloo County/Region who have given their lives for their country. One admission price includes entry to all of the museum exhibit galleries.  www.waterlooregionmuseum.ca  

Photo © AGO

AGO: Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 105,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is home to iconic Canadian art, nestled in the woodland setting that inspired the Group of Seven. Inside, see renowned works of art, including celebrated paintings by the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of Canadian art. Outside, explore art in nature, wander through the Sculpture Garden, and hike on 100 acres of stunning forested land. Located just 20 minutes north of Toronto. Start your trip at mcmichael.com today.    

Art Gallery of Hamilton: Founded in 1914, the Art Gallery of Hamilton is the oldest and largest public art gallery in southwestern Ontario. Its permanent collection, which is focused on historical Canadian, 19th-century European, and International and Contemporary art, numbers more than 10,000 works and is recognized as one of Canada’s finest. The AGH is a vital creative hub and centre of lifelong learning that enables people of all ages to enrich their lives by gaining a deeper understanding of art. www.artgalleryofhamilton.com  

Descend into history, 75 feet underground. The Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum,  a once-top secret, four-storey underground bunker, was originally designed as the centre for Canada’s defence against nuclear attack during the Cold War. Now a museum and national historic site, the Diefenbunker and its stories play a crucial role in helping us to understand our past and envision a more peaceful future. Canada’s most significant Cold War artifact offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experiential learning environment, along with award-winning programs, events, exhibitions, and escape rooms.Diefenbunker.ca

ROM: Opened in 1914, ROM showcases art, culture and nature from around the world and across the ages. Among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America, Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum is home to a world-class collection of 13 million art objects and natural history specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings, ROM plays a vital role in advancing our understanding of the artistic, cultural, and natural world. Combining its original heritage architecture with the contemporary Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, ROM serves as a national landmark, and a dynamic cultural destination in the heart of Toronto for all to enjoy. Visit ROM.CA to learn more.

National Gallery of Canada has one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art in the world. It makes its home in a grand, light-filled structure of glass and granite designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. Discover contemporary and historical artworks - including paintings, sculptures, photographs and multimedia installations – located in this landmark in the heart of Ottawa.https://www.gallery.ca/

The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada is North America’s first museum dedicated to the arts of Muslim civilizations. The Museum aims to connect cultures through art, fostering a greater understanding of how Muslim civilizations have contributed to world heritage. As a vibrant educational institution, the Museum encourages the full spectrum of public engagement with its diverse Permanent Collection of more than 1,000 objects and its ever-changing roster of exhibitions and innovative programs — including music and dance performances, theatre, lectures, workshops, and film screening. agakhanmuseum.org

Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons: Ontario’s first European Community, Sainte-Marie was the headquarters for the French Jesuit Mission to the Huron-Wendat people. Located near Midland in the beautiful Southern Georgian Bay area, this world-renowned reconstruction staffed by costumed interpreters tells the story of contact between the French and Wendat nations. Come experience early Canadian pioneer life, through guided or self-guided visits, school group tours, interactive education programs, special events, or corporate functions. https://saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca

The Canadian Museum of Nature is both an educational and scientific institution, as well as a popular, downtown-Ottawa tourist attraction, housed in the historic Victoria Memorial Museum Building – a true castle! As Canada’s natural history museum, it is a vibrant, multi-layered, multi-faceted organization composed of world-renowned research scientists, collection specialists, education and multimedia specialists, and innovative museum professionals. There’s something for everyone, including the Fossil Gallery, Mammal Gallery, Water Gallery, Bird Gallery, Earth Gallery, Canada Goose Arctic Gallery, and much more!

Fort William Historical Park features Fort William, one of North America's largest living history sites. Fort William brings to the life the inland headquarters of the North West Company in 1815. This is a place where cultures meet, and relationships are forged between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous newcomers The Park is also home the state-of-the-art David Thompson Astronomical Observatory, year-round festivals and events, an RV and tent campground, in-person, virtual and overnight educational programs, and conference facilities. www.fwhp.ca