Doon Heritage Village

Waterloo Region Museum and Doon Heritage Village (formerly Doon Heritage Crossroads)
Established 1914
Location Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Type living history museum
Website official website

Doon Heritage Village is a living history museum located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada which recreates life in rural Waterloo County during the year 1914. It has more than 25 buildings on more than 24 hectares (60 acres), next to Homer Watson Park. The museum is owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo.

Construction began in late 2008 on the new Waterloo Region Museum. The museum is located at the entrance to Doon Heritage Village and the building opened on May 1, 2010. Exhibits will open in the fall of 2011.

Contents

Programs

Doon Heritage Village is set in 1914, in World War I. Living history programs bring to life this exciting era in Canada's history. Hands-on activities take place throughout the year including vintage games, making ice cream and historic crafts. Seasonal programs at Christmas include Lantern Light Tours, Country Christmas, and Starry Night.

Images

History

1950-1959

1960-1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-today

Structures and exhibits

Doon Heritage Village comprises more than 25 structures, including restored buildings donated and relocated from across Waterloo Region and south-central Ontario, and some structures which are reconstructions based on original buildings.

The living history village

Buildings in the living history village include: Petersburg Grand Trunk Railway Station, Peter Martin House, Wagon Drive Shed and Barns, Weavery, Dry Goods and Grocery Store, Harness Shop, Printing Office, Tailor Shop, Post Office, Sawmill, Blacksmith Shop, Meat Market, Repair Shop, McArthur House, Seibert House, Sararas House, Bricker Barn, Freeport United Brethren in Christ Church, and Fire Hall.

Collections

The Waterloo Region Museum collection supports the 1914 living history village but also includes the Region of Waterloo’s local history collection, spanning from prehistory to the present day. The collection numbers more than 43,000 artifacts and archival pieces. Research collections are stored in the Waterloo Region Curatorial Centre, located at Doon Heritage Village.

Citations

Tivy, Mary. The Local History Museum In Ontario: An Intellectual History, 1851-1985. PhD Thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, 2006.

Region of Waterloo. History's Home for 40 Years - Doon Heritage Crossroads, 1957-1997. Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, 1997.

Region of Waterloo. Doon Heritage Crossroads Visitor Guide. Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, 1993 (revised 2005).

Affiliations

The Museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.

See also

External links

See also Region of Waterloo History Museum on Facebook

References