Cornwall Community Museum, Cornwall, Ontario

The Cornwall Community Museum in Cornwall, Ontario, is located inside the Wood House, a heritage home built around 1840. It’s in Lamoureux Park, near the St. Lawrence River.

Run by the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) Historical Society, the museum tells the story of Cornwall’s evolution, from its founding in 1784 to the present. It also delves into the history of the surrounding United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Exhibits cover Cornwall’s early days, industry, business, health care, Black history, Indigenous history, the Cornwall Canal and the St. Lawrence Seaway, and more. One of the highlights is a 1940s bedroom, furnished with items manufactured in Cornwall.

Temporary exhibitions rotate regularly. Inside the museum, kids can usually enjoy activities geared to them. For adults, the Cornwall Community Museum also organizes special events at the museum and offsite, such as historical talks and author readings.

The stone Wood House (it’s called the Wood House because it was built by a man named William Wood) makes a great backdrop for the items on display. If you’re interested in researching local history, the museum also has a large archive of over 100,000 historical documents, about 1,000 books and some 500,000 photos.

If you go to the Cornwall Community Museum

The Cornwall Community Museum is at 160 Water Street West in Cornwall, Ontario. It’s located 104km southeast of Parliament Hill.

The museum offers self-guided tours, guided tours and group tours by reservation, from Tuesday through Saturday. Check the website for current hours. Admission and tours are free, though donations to the SDG Historical Society are welcome.

Parking for visitors with disabilities is available. The main floor and basement of the museum are accessible by elevator, but the top floor can only be reached via stairs.

by Laura Byrne Paquet, Ottawa Road Trips