Amelie CameronDid you know that Toronto is a treasure trove of cultural gems, boasting over 50 museums covering a myriad of subjects from art and history to science and beyond?
Whether you’re an art aficionado, history buff, or science enthusiast, Toronto has a museum tailor-made for your curious spirit. The city’s cultural landscape is as diverse as its people.
Let’s dive into the heart of Toronto’s vibrant museum scene as we unravel the stories, collections, and hidden treasures within the walls of Toronto’s museums. Join the quest to explore the wonders that await in each exhibit.
- Honor the Brave at the 48th Highlanders of Canada Museum
- Explore Islamic Culture at the Aga Khan Museum
- Get Lost in the Pieces at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
- Get a Different Perspective of History from the Bata Shoe Museum
- Explore the Grounds of the Campbell House Museum
- Get a Museum Experience within a Castle at Casa Loma
- Appreciate the Collection of Ceramics at the Gardiner Museum
- Celebrate Sports History at the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Experience a Slice of Life During the 1860s at the Mackenzie House
- Marvel at Modern Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCa)
- Check out the Educational Displays at the Ontario Science Centre
- Get a Crash Course on Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum
- Find Out What Life Was Like in the 1900s at the Spadina Museum
- Explore History One Thread at a Time at the Textile Museum of Canada
Honor the Brave at the 48th Highlanders of Canada Museum
Address: 73 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON M5J 1W9, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 596 1382
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm
The 48th Highlanders of Canada Museum features a wide selection of artifacts and records that tell the history of the reserve infantry regiment that shares its name.
Members of the 48th engaged in conflict from World War 1 until modern times.
You can find documents and images all throughout history. There are also important items from the uniforms of soldiers and historic items like the battlefield cross from Vimy Ridge, gas masks from 1916, bass drums used in battle, and deactivated grenades.
With over 7,000 individual pieces, the 48th Highlanders of Canada Museum also offers an online resource of their collection that you can check on their website before you go.
| Pro Tip: The museum is housed in the Regimental Church or St. Andrew’s Church, down in its basement so don’t get lost when finding your way there. Once you enter the church, turn right and head down the staircase to the information stall. |
Explore Islamic Culture at the Aga Khan Museum
Address: 77 Wynford Dr, North York, ON M3C 1K1, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 646 4677
Hours:
- Open on Tuesday and from Thursday to Saturday from 10 am to 5:30 pm
- Open on Wednesday from 10 am to 8 pm
Nestled in North York’s, the Aga Khan Museum is dedicated to educating the community on the rich culture and arts of Islam. Established by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan in 2014, the inside features pieces that date back thousands of years ago.
The pieces come from Spain, North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. There are everyday items from the 18th to 19th century like pen rests, pots, inkwells, and doors. Art pieces like pottery, paintings, and textiles make up a chunk of the collection
Religious manuscripts, historical texts, and records of pilgrimages are also available.
| Pro Tip: Architecture lovers should not miss out on appreciating the building that houses the Aga Khan Museum. Its modern design by the renowned architect Fumihiko Maki comes with Brazilian granite and an open air indoor courtyard. |
Get Lost in the Pieces at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 979 6648
Hours:
- Open on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 am to 5 pm
- Open on Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 am to 9 pm
- Open on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
You can dive into the tapestry of global artistry at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Housing a staggering collection of nearly 100,000 pieces, this museum is a celebration of diversity from works of European and Central African artists to Indigenous Canadians.
Mainstays include The Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Ruben and works from the Group of Seven. The AGO also features more modern art like the Untilled (Liegender Frauenakt) by Pierre Huyghe.
There’s also an extensive collection of photographs featuring works from Garry Winogrand and Diane Arbus.
| Pro Tip: The Art Gallery of Ontario also hosts rotating exhibits throughout the year. Stay updated by constantly checking their website. Some of the exhibits feature paintings, photographs, and interactive art installations. |
Get a Different Perspective of History from the Bata Shoe Museum
Address: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 979 7799
Hours:
- Open from Monday to saturday from 10 am to 5 pm
- Open on Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm
If you’re not a fan of traditional museums, but still enjoy observing how history is reflected in items, then a visit to the Bata Shoe Museum should be on the top of your bucket list. This museum reflects the changing times through 15,000 pairs of shoes.
The main collection, All About Shoes has pairs dating back 4,500 years ago. You’ll find shoes from different cultures too. Iconic ones include Chinese shoes for women with bound feet, sandals used in ancient Egypt, and clogs used for chestnut crushing.
The other 3 galleries are all used to display rotating exhibits from artists and collectors. These exhibitions mainly feature shoes but also include other apparel and accessories.
| Pro Tip: Because of the inclusion of different cultures, the Bata shoe Museum takes this a step further by serving as a venue for continuous events. The Lion Dance Performance held every year during the Lunar New Year is the most popular one. |
Explore the Grounds of the Campbell House Museum
Address: 160 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3H3, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 597 0227
Hours:
- Open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 4:30 pm
- Open on Sunday from 12 pm to 4:30 pm
Campbell House Museum stands out from any other in the region as being the last standing structure from the old Town of York. The building the museum is in was built in 1822 as the home of the chief and was designed in the style of Georgian architecture.
The house itself is one of its exhibits, especially if you’re into architecture. Palladian, classical Greek, and Roman architecture is apparent in the fireplaces, windows, and doors of the home.
Today, it still educates through some and acts as a venue for local performances and musicals from kids plays, horror productions, and Christmas specials.
| Pro Tip: Don’t forget to drop by the Relic Linear Park which is composed of architectural relics from the city’s rich past all collated into one area. The park also features greenery and spaces to rest and relax. |
Get a Museum Experience within a Castle at Casa Loma
Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 923 1171
Hours: Open everyday from 9:30 a to 5 pm
Most museums tell you about history, Casa Loma lets you relive it. Toronto’s very own castle is a mansion and garden designed in the Gothic Revival Style. It now functions as a historic house museum that was built in 1911 to 1914.
Casa Loma’s first floor contains the great hall, a library, and the original owner’s study and conservatory. Up on the next floor are the bedrooms with the original furnishings. The Queen’s Own Rifles Museum on the third floor adds historical depth.
The towers are accessible by way of spiral staircases and the climb to the top grants you a panoramic view of the city’s skyline.
| Pro Tip: Touring the grounds by yourself will take around 2 hours. If you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, inquire about the app you can download for the Audio Tour that you can follow as you walk around the area. |
Appreciate the Collection of Ceramics at the Gardiner Museum
Address: 111 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 586 8080
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Tuesday and Thursday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm
- Open on Wednesday from 10 am to 9 pm
- Open from Saturday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Tucked away as one of Toronto’s best underrated museums, the Gardiner Museum is an intimate space solely dedicated to the ceramic arts. Originating from the private collection of George and Helen Gardiner in 1984, the museum expanded its horizons.
The museum contains pieces from the 17th and 18th century up until more modern artworks. The ceramics are spread over the 3 floors of the equally stunning building. There are themed rooms as well dedicated to specific styles and designs.
Prominent collections include English tavern ware, ancient earthenware, and precious Chinese porcelain.
| Pro Tip: The Gardiner Museum has its own eatery on site that you have to try. The Clay Restaurant serves dishes from different cuisines from Chinese to Mexican. The food is presented and served on ceramics that come from their own countries. |
Celebrate Sports History at the Hockey Hall of Fame
Address: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 360 7765
Hours: Open everyday from 10 am to 5 pm
To get a glimpse into the heart of Canada’s beloved sport, a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame is a must. Here, you can get an immersive and educational experience from the collection of hockey memorabilia found here.
Spanning 65,000 square feet, there’s more than enough space to house a huge collection that tells the story of the game and how it has evolved to present day hockey.
There are a lot of galleries containing sports gear from jerseys and skates to historic game winning pucks. There’s also an archive of photos, videos, and printed material related to the sport. The trophy collection is also quite extensive and worth a peak.
| Pro Tip: The Hockey Hall of Fame has an interactive program where you can play with holograms of the most iconic hockey players. You can try taking a shot against some of the best goalies in history. |
Experience a Slice of Life During the 1860s at the Mackenzie House
– Media Credit: johndkane
Address: 82 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1X2, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 6915
Hours: open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm
The Mackenzie House might not technically be your typical museum, but it’s definitely my favorite one in Toronto. Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie lived out his last years in the city here.
Today, it functions as a historic house museum on the ways of life in Urban Victoria in the 1860s with a special focus on the Mackenzies. The house still holds their original furniture and the printing press William Mackenzie used.
The Memorial Arch that once guarded the Honeymoon Bridge in Niagara Falls are also on the grounds.
| Pro Tip: What really makes this place stand out is the rumored spirits that now reside in the home. The most popular and regularly spotted one is of Mackenzie’s ghost, occasionally spotted working at the printing press. |
Marvel at Modern Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCa)
Address: 158 Sterling Rd #100, Toronto, ON M6R 2B7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 530 2500
Hours:
- Open from Wednesday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm
- Open on Friday from 11 am to 6 pm
Formerly known as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art or MOCCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCa) continues to showcase Canadian creativity since its relocation to the Tower Automotive Building in 2018.
This museum doesn’t really function like a traditional one. Instead of amassing a collection of artworks, MoCa positions itself as a huge art gallery that hosts rotating exhibitions throughout the year.
You can expect to see art of all mediums from paintings, ceramics, photographs, statues, and even live art here.
| Pro Tip: The Museum of Contemporary Art opens its doors to visitors for free every Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm. During these weekly events, you can enjoy live music, pop up installations and art centered activities. |
Check out the Educational Displays at the Ontario Science Centre
Address: 770 Don Mills Rd., North York, ON M3C 1T3, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 696 1000
Hours:
- Open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm
- Open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
The Ontario Science Centre is an interactive science museum that features 10 exhibit halls with over 500 interactive stations on topics like nature, astronomy, geology, technology, anatomy, among others.
Some of the best ones include Forest Lane with actual living trees and ancient tree trunks native to the country and Living Earth that simulates different ecosystems like caves, coral reefs, and rainforests.
The Space Hall contains the city’s only public planetarium and important space exploration objects like actual meteorites from Mars.
| Pro Tip: The Ontario Science Center has a state of the art OmniMax Theater with surround sound speakers. Watching a film here is an experience you should try while you’re there. Buy tickets and check the schedules in advance on their website. |
Get a Crash Course on Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum
Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 586 8000
Hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5:30 pm
For a museum that explores both culture and natural history, we suggest a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum. Founded in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum is one of Canada’s biggest with an astounding 13 million pieces housed within 40 galleries.
There are historical items from different eras and cultures like antiques from Greece, colonial pieces, religious scripts from the Middle East, and samurai swords from Japan.
It also has 150,000 individual specimens of fossils, the largest of its kind. These include 30 fossilized skeletons of extinct animals from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous periods. Grodo, the biggest dinosaur display in Canada is the star of the collection.
| Pro Tip: If you’re a tactile learner, then head to the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity on the second floor. In this area, you’re actually allowed to touch and interact with items, some of which are over centuries old. |
Find Out What Life Was Like in the 1900s at the Spadina Museum
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Address: 285 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2V5, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 6910
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm
The Spadina Museum is often underrated and overshadowed by the more popular Casa Loma located nearby. But this mansion, which was once the home of the wealthy Austin family, showcases what life was like from the 1900s to the 1930s.
The house was designed with a combination of Victorian, Art Nouveau, Neo Colonial, Art Deco, and Edwardian elements. The inside still has the original furniture and decorative elements.
There are exhibits inside that detail the life back then with a unique section that depicts the lives of the servants that worked for the Austin family.
| Pro Tip: Try to time your visit in the summer months from June to September to make the most of the gardens that cover most of the 6 acres the museum is on. You can see chestnut trees and forget me not’s in full bloom during these months. |
Explore History One Thread at a Time at the Textile Museum of Canada
Address: 55 Centre Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2H5, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 599 5321
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm
The items in the Textile Museum of Canada are literally woven with history. This is the nation’s sole museum dedicated to the craft of textiles and has a comprehensive collection of 13,000 pieces worth about 2,000 years of history from 200 regions.
Some interesting items to check out are a Chinese body suit made entirely out of salmon skin and a 2000 year old fragment of a Peruvian Nazca.
There are ceremonial cloth from Africa, SouthEast Asian Textiles like belts and blankets, hats like Arabian Covers and Thai head cloths. More traditional items like kimonos from Japan and burial cloths from Europe are also found here.
| Pro Tip: Because of the sheer size of the collection, not all pieces are displayed at all times. They rotate them but upload an online version of the entire line on their website so you can check which ones will be physically present in the museum. |
