Collecting, preserving & sharing since 1957.

Charles Heels was a 3rd generation railway man who spent more than 48 years working for the Grand Trunk Railway, and later the Canadian National Railway, in Lindsay. His deep love for, and knowledge of, the trains is evident in his photographs, his travels to track down engines all over North America, his books and his 40 columns published in the Lindsay Daily Post between 1963-1965. His collection takes us down a track to the bygone era of the Lindsay railway system at its peak.

Learn about some of Kawartha Lakes’ heroes in this World War II exhibit. Learn of Jasper Foreman, Helen McMullen, D’Arcy Dolan, “Chum” Gillespie, Ted Relf, and Arthur Menaul and how they contributed to the Canadian war effort by by air, land, and sea.

Edward A. Lacey (1937-1995) wrote and published what is known as the first openly gay poetry collection in English-speaking Canada. The book, The Forms of Loss, was sponsored by Dennis Lee and Margaret Atwood.

subVERSE: the life and poetry of Edward A. Lacey is an exhibition that spotlights the body of work that Lacey left behind and his complicated connection to his much-hated hometown.

This exhibit highlights the history of the Victoria County Gaol from its construction in 1863 to its closure in 2003. Discover the daily lives of the inmates and gaolers who once resided within these stone walls.

The sentimentality of the Victorian period gave rise to a domestic art form known as fancywork. Learn about the lives of these women and view their art work that utilized many different mediums: feathers, hair, and seeds.

You are cordially invited to join the Laidlaw sisters, Jean Laidlaw Shields and Peggy Laidlaw Woodrow, to dine with them and their husbands Charles and Arthur. Granddaughters of George Laidlaw of The Fort Ranch, Balsam Lake, these ladies took the opportunity to express their joy in the art of collecting, showing off their individual taste and preferences, while still being very practical in decorating their homes in Coboconk and Lindsay. Enjoy viewing their collections of glass, china and art while considering what you like to collect.

John McCrea (1865-1957) drew from his boyhood memories of hometown Omemee to faithfully recreate tiny wooden models of buildings, homesteading implements and area bridges.

Five generations of John McCrea’s, from Pettigo, Ireland, to Omemee, Ontario, all were grounded to the land through farmingand woodworking. Witness items from the McCrea Model Collection paired with their full-size versions from the museum’s agricultural collection, as we look at some of the items needed fo pioneer settlers to clear the land and build their homesteads.

Meet the women and men from our community who kept the home fires burning, cared for the wounded and dying, and made the supreme sacrifice in conflict to ensure a more peaceful and just society.

Industry was essential in helping build the town of Lindsay into a thriving community by providing jobs and goods to the local residents. These are just a few featured businesses from different sectors of production. Featured businesses include the Carew Sawmill & Lumber Co., Fox Brickworks, Silverwood’s Dairy, Sylvester Manufacturing, Horn Bros. Woolen Mill, Knitter’s Limited, and Lindsay Soda Waterworks.

Our Education Committee presents exciting programs that engage students in hands-on learning experiences. We link our current museum exhibits to relevant big ideas and specific expectations from the Ontario Curriculum.

Our newest community historical collection initiative, Women of the Kawarthas, is our opportunity to celebrate the incredible women that contribute to our daily lives in so many ways, primarily focused on participants 55+, living within Kawartha Lakes.

Resources and activities about museum programs and collections to support home-based learning— or just plain have fun! All the fun of our museum from the comfort of your home!

We have decided at this time in our history that we must preserve the stories and experiences of our community in current time. It is our mission to preserve our history starting yesterday to safeguard our past and make it available for future research.