Museums
Our Museums collect and preserve the many objects and materials of religious, cultural and historical value that tell the story of our people and help us understand our sense of place.
Plan a visit and learn more about Haldimand’s cultural heritage and the artifacts that will bring history to life.
Some of our favourite museums include:
- Caledonia Grand Trunk Station
- Canadian Drilling Rig Museum
- Cayuga Library & Heritage Centre
- Cottonwood Mansion Museum
- Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre
- No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum
- Ruthven Park National Historic Site
- Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association
- Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum
The Grand Trunk Railway Station is a historical and cultural landmark built in 1908, in Caledonia. It remained a busy spot until passenger service ended on October 26, 1957. Express parcel service continued until November 1977 when CNR used the station as a maintenance depot.
In 1988, the windows were boarded over and it remained in disrepair until the official opening of the newly renovated station in 1997. Today the station is once again a busy spot, accommodating the office for the Caledonia Regional Chamber of Commerce, a year-round Tourist Information Centre, a meeting place for Chamber and other community activities, and small gatherings. You’ll also find local railway artifacts, displays and an operating “G” scale model train.
The Canadian Drilling Rig Museum, located in the rural community of Rainham Centre, is a monument to the rich history of the early natural gas fields of Haldimand, Norfolk and Southern Ontario. The site houses the rebuilt, “working” 1896 drilling rig along with many interesting artifacts and a wealth of historical information.
Cayuga Library & Heritage Centre
Located in the heart of Cayuga’s downtown core, the museum building accommodates both the library and the museum, providing visitors with a unique learning and cultural experience. The Heritage Centre space encompasses 1,400 sq. ft., with 800 sq. ft. dedicated to an exhibit & display area and 600 sq. ft. designated for local history and genealogical research. Hard-copy genealogical records and information are available within the designated genealogy space, as are new technologies that assist with research. Heritage programming is offered for both adults and children.
William Holmes built Cottonwood Mansion in approximately 1860 on the farm originally established by Jakob Huber in the 1790s. It is one of the few remaining examples of rural mansions of the period. It contains 15 rooms, including five bedrooms, a music room, and a widow’s walk.
Now a living museum, the mansion is open for tours and available for event rentals. Several scheduled events take place annually, most with a Victorian flavour.
Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre
Built in 1857, Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre, formerly the Caledonia Town Hall and Lock-Up, was designed by noted architect John Turner. The museum presents the history of Caledonia through educational and outreach activities and several permanent and temporary exhibits.
Of particular note are the original 1857 jail cell and a permanent display highlighting the gypsum mining industry along the Grand River. Local history or family genealogy may be researched in the Gillespie Clark Reference Library. The library contains books, files and documents relating to Caledonia’s rich history. The archive holds a collection of surviving editions of the Grand River Sachem from 1856 to the present day.
The No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum pays homage to Haldimand County’s and Canada’s proud aviation history and contributions to various wartime efforts. The former Dunnville Airport was built during World War II to house the No. 6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The No. 6 SFTS officially opened on November 25, 1940, and closed on December 1, 1944.
A total of 2,436 pilots from Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United States trained at the school. Through memorabilia, photographs, vintage aircraft and equipment of the era, you’ll gain a sense of what it was like for young men to train at the No. 6 SFTS before serving in the European Theatre of World War II.
Ruthven Park National Historic Site
Ruthven Park is a unique historic estate overlooking the Canadian Heritage Grand River. Experience the mansion and the lifestyle of five generations of the Thompson family who lived here from the 1840s – 1990s. The Greek Revival mansion contains a collection of archival records, military artifacts, furnishings, paintings, decorative arts, tools, implements, books, clothing, gate columns, and lawn sculpture dating from David Thompson I relate the history of the Thompson family residence and contribute to the understanding of the site. The 1,500-acre property is now made up of Carolinian forests, active farm fields, wetlands, meadows, two cemeteries, nineteenth-century buildings, and an island. Visit the butterfly garden or numerous trails or take a guided tour of the mansion.
Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association
The members of the Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association work to keep the history of farming practices alive. Their large collection of farming implements, machinery, and tractors is on display several times a year during special events and scheduled tours.
Also the home of the Jarvis Train station (c.1906), which at one time saw a daily steam locomotive that chugged between Hamilton and Port Dover. Currently displays historical photos, signs, posters as well as tools, railway lanterns, model trains, and other items from the town’s past.
Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum
The Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of rural education, the heritage of the surrounding community, and the memory of poet Wilson Pugsley MacDonald. Step into a classroom of 1925, when the Union Jack waved over the schoolhouse, classes started with “God Save the King”, and penmanship was practiced using straight pens and black ink.
Lyric poet Wilson Pugsley MacDonald (1880 – 1967) was born in nearby Cheapside and published works, including “Out of the Wilderness”, and a “Flagon of Beauty.” Built in 1872, this one-room schoolhouse was in operation until 1966. Visit to experience a day in the life of a student in a 1920s-era one-room rural school!
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