Museum of Dufferin

Mulmur • Dufferin County • Headwaters Tourism

The Museum of Dufferin in Mulmur preserves the rural and agricultural heritage of Dufferin County through historic buildings, farm exhibits, and educational programs that highlight the traditions and stories of early farming communities in the region.

Visitor Information

📍 Location: Museum of Dufferin, Mulmur, Ontario
🎟 Experience: Heritage Museum / Rural History Village
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best For: Families, history enthusiasts, and educational visits
🌾 Season: Open year-round with seasonal exhibits and heritage events

Plan Your Visit

🕒 Time Needed: Plan to spend one to two hours exploring the museum galleries and historic buildings.
👟 What to Expect: Agricultural artifacts, historic buildings, and exhibits that tell the story of rural life in Dufferin County.
🏛 Heritage Experience: Visitors can explore preserved structures and displays illustrating how early settlers farmed the land and built rural communities.
📅 Special Programs: Seasonal events, workshops, and heritage demonstrations celebrate local farming traditions and regional history.
🚗 Parking: On-site parking available
🌐 Official Website: Museum of Dufferin

Museum of Dufferin: Preserving the County’s Rural Heritage

The Museum of Dufferin offers visitors a deeper understanding of the people and agricultural traditions that helped shape the county’s rural communities. Exhibits and historic buildings illustrate the everyday lives of early settlers who worked the land and developed farms throughout the region.

Artifacts, tools, and preserved structures help tell the story of how agriculture supported the growth of communities across Dufferin County. Through educational programs and exhibits, the museum continues to preserve and share the rural heritage that remains an important part of the region’s identity.

Did You Know?

The Museum of Dufferin is located on the historic Rosemont Rural Agricultural Fairgrounds, a site that has hosted agricultural fairs and community events for generations.

Today the museum continues that tradition by offering exhibits and programs that celebrate the agricultural history of Dufferin County.

Museum of Dufferin

The Heritage Attraction at a Glance & the Story Behind the Site

The Museum of Dufferin (MoD) is a community museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Dufferin County — from agricultural settlement and pioneer life to industry, culture, and community stories. The museum is housed in a striking bank-barn style building designed to reflect the rural and agricultural heritage of the region and is located at 936029 Airport Road in Mulmur Township.

Museum of Dufferin (MoD) Building

The origins of the Museum go back to 1963 when the Dufferin County Historical Society established the Shelburne Pioneer Museum. The collection was later entrusted to the County, and by 1994 a purpose-built facility opened to better showcase the region’s historical artifacts, archives, and stories in a welcoming and accessible setting.

Welcome to the Museum

Inside, MoD’s exhibitions explore the social, cultural, and economic development of local communities, ranging from daily life, farming, and industry to families, transportation, and decorative arts. Exhibits change regularly, inviting repeat visits and fresh discoveries about how residents shaped the county over time.

Museum Church - Museum of Dufferin

The MoD also acknowledges that the museum resides on the traditional territory and ancestral lands of the Tionontati (Pétun), Attawandaron (Neutral), Haudenosaunee (Six Nations), and Anishinaabe peoples, and it honours Indigenous connections to the land, waterways, and resources that continue today.

Inside the Museum

Agriculture at the Heart of the Story

Agriculture has long been a defining part of Dufferin County’s history, and the Museum of Dufferin reflects this in both its building design and its collections. The barn-inspired architecture itself celebrates the county’s agricultural roots, echoing the traditional structures that farmers built and used across the region.

Looking Down

Within the MoD’s galleries and interpretive spaces, visitors encounter artifacts and stories connected to rural life, from tools and equipment to exhibits that illustrate how farming families lived, adapted, and contributed to community growth. These displays help reveal how agricultural practices supported household economies, shaped settlement patterns, and influenced local culture.

Inside Store - Museum of Dufferin (MoD)

By contextualizing rural and farming history alongside broader social and industrial developments, the Museum encourages visitors to see agriculture not as an isolated activity but as a key thread in the tapestry of county life, one that influenced food systems, labour, and community connections throughout Dufferin’s evolution.

Log Cabin in Museum

🌾 Explore Nearby Agritourism Experiences

Visitors exploring the Museum of Dufferin may also enjoy discovering these nearby farms, markets, and rural attractions in Dufferin County and the surrounding Headwaters region.

• Mono Farmers’ Market – Mono – community farmers’ market featuring fresh produce, baked goods, and locally produced foods
• Spirit Tree Estate Cidery – Caledon – orchard, cidery, and bakery offering handcrafted cider and farm-fresh cuisine in the countryside
• Downey’s Farm Market – Caledon – popular farm attraction known for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and seasonal farm activities
• The Village at Black Creek – Toronto – living history village showcasing rural life and farming traditions in 19th-century Ontario

Some nearby experiences include links to additional Ontario Agritourism Showcase pages with more visitor information.

Rooted in the Local Community

The Museum of Dufferin is a community hub supported by volunteers, local partners, and residents who contribute to exhibits, events, workshops, and archives. Its programming ranges from hands-on workshops and seasonal celebrations to guest speaker series, family-friendly events, and historical tours that welcome people of all ages.

Although it has experienced temporary closures, MoD continues to offer dynamic experiences that reflect both tradition and contemporary community life. The museum’s exhibitions — including rotating displays, art shows, and installations — help connect visitors with stories of local industry, agriculture, settlement, and daily life in Dufferin County.

Glassware

Serving as a place to learn, reflect, and connect, the Museum of Dufferin remains a valued cultural resource for local residents and travellers alike, helping to preserve the county’s past while fostering appreciation for its present and future.

Press Button for Museum of Dufferin Website