List of museums in Toronto explained

There are a variety of different museums in Toronto. Types of museums located in Toronto include agricultural museums, art museums, fashion museums, food museums, history museums (including historic houses and living museums), military museums (including local regimental museums), railway museums, science museums, and textile museums.

Current museums

The following is a list of museums current located in Toronto. The following list does not include virtual museums that do not have physical galleries, regardless if they're based in Toronto.

NameImageNeighborhoodArea AttendanceTypeSummaryRef.
48th Highlanders Museum Military (regimental) Regimental museum for the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The museum has been situated in St. Andrew's Church since 1997 [1]
Old Toronto Art Artist-run contemporary art gallery [2]
Art Muslim arts and culture [3]
Applewood Shaver Homestead Historic house Historic house museum situated in a homestead dating back to c. 1850s [4]
Old Toronto 974,736 (2018) Art Gallery of Canadian and European art, with a collection that includes decorative arts, contemporary art, and sculptures. The museum also includes The Grange, a historic home used as an art space and lounge by the museum. [5] [6]
Art Gallery of York University North York Art Gallery of contemporary art. A university museum of York University, it is housed in the university's Accolade East Building. [7]
Art Museum at the University of TorontoOld Toronto 63,393 (2018) Art A university museum for contemporary art, comprising the adjacent Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at Hart House, and the University of Toronto Art Centre at University College. The two galleries were formerly separate entities before they were amalgamated into the Art Museum at the University of Toronto in 2014. [8]
Old Toronto 110,334 (2018) Fashion History of footwear from around the world [9]
North York 141,000 (2017) Living A living history museum situated in North York. The property contains a number of early-to-mid 19th century buildings. [10] [11]
Old Toronto Historic house Historic house museum that is situated in a house dating back to 1822. The building was converted into a historical house in 1974. The building also includes an art gallery [12]
Old Toronto Language Promotes the languages of Canada and the scientific study of languages. Situated within Glendon Gallery building of Glendon College, an English/French bilingual college of York University [13]
Old Toronto Art Contemporary Canadian sculpture gallery, operated by the Sculptors Society of Canada
Old Toronto 350,000 Historic house A historic house museum situated in an estate completed in 1914. The estate was converted into a historical house in 1937. [14]
Cedar Ridge Creative Centre Art Art centre with exhibit gallery situated in a house dating back to the mid-19th century. The house was converted to an art centre in 1978. [15]
Old Toronto Historic house [16]
Doris McCarthy Gallery Scarborough Art [17]
Enoch Turner SchoolOld Toronto Living A living history museum of a Victorian-era period schoolhouse. The museum is housed in a schoolhouse dating back to 1848. The building was converted into a living history museum in 1970. [18]
Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery Etobicoke Art [19]
First Floor Gallery & Architecture and Design Gallery Old Toronto Art The First Floor Gallery and the Architecture and Design Gallery are two university art galleries managed by the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, and located at 1 Spadina Crescent. It features exhibitions of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and allied design fields
Old Toronto Military Fort York was a defensive fortification, featuring buildings from the late-18th to early 19th century. Operated by City of Toronto government, it is presently used as a War of 1812 museum, featuring exhibits and historical re-enactments. The fort was reopened for public use by the city in 1934.
Old Toronto Art Free, public contemporary art museum with rotating exhibits as well as workshops [20]
Old Toronto Art Ceramic art
North York Historic house The historic house museum is situated in a house dating back to 1851. The building was converted into a heritage house in 1971. The museum is operated by City of Toronto government
Old Toronto 256,754 (2017) Sports [21]
Old Toronto Art Media arts [22]
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Gallery North York Art The gallery at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre houses contemporary art with an East Asian perspective [23]
Old Toronto Art Contemporary arts centre housed in the Artscape Youngplace building
Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Etobicoke Arts Free exhibit and gallery spaces, workshops, & interpretive tours [24]
Old Toronto Historic house Historic house museum built in 1830. The building was re-purposed into a heritage museum in 1936, and is operated by the City of Toronto government
Market Gallery Old Toronto Multiple
Old Toronto Art Artist-run contemporary art centre
Etobicoke Historic house Period historic inn situated in an inn completed in 1832. The museum is operated by the City of Toronto
Morris and Sally Justein Heritage Museum North York Cultural/ethnic Located in the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, exhibits of Judaic heritage and culture [25]
Old Toronto 30,000 (2018) Art Also known as MOCA. Formerly known as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art [26]
MZTV Museum of Television Old Toronto Media Historic television sets and memorabilia [27]
Neilson Park Creative Centre Etobicoke Art Includes two galleries for exhibits of contemporary fine arts and crafts [28]
OCAD University Galleries Old Toronto Art Art galleries managed by the OCAD University art school, includes its Graduate Student Gallery
North York 900,225 (2018) Science Themes include geology, nature, astronomy, music, technology, anatomy, communications [29]
Open Studio Gallery Old Toronto Art Artist-run printmaking centre [30]
Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books Old Toronto Literature Located in the Lillian H. Smith branch of the Toronto Public Library, changing exhibits of books, art, documents and more from the collection [31]
Old Toronto 77,243 (2018) Art Contemporary art gallery [32]
Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental MuseumOld Toronto Military (regimental) Regimental museum of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, located on the third floor of Casa Loma
Redpath Sugar Museum Old Toronto Food
Reuben & Helene Dennis Museum Cultural/ethnic Located in Beth Tzedec Synagogue, it contains Jewish art, ceremonial objects and history [33]
Old Toronto Agricultural/historic farm Working heritage farm with an 1860s to 1920s Ontario focus
Royal Canadian Military Institute Museum Old Toronto Military Features guns, swords, spears, other weapons from around the world, badges, uniforms, medals, art, miniatures, photographs and other military memorabilia. Located at the Royal Canadian Military Institute.
Old Toronto data-sort-value="1440000"1,440,000 (2018) Multiple Includes dinosaurs, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history [34]
Royal Regiment of Canada Museum Old Toronto Military (regimental) Regimental museum covering the history of The Royal Regiment of Canada, located in the Fort York Armoury.
Saint Mark's Coptic Museum ScarboroughArt Coptic and Christian art, icons, coins, crosses, manuscripts, pottery, woodwork [35]
Scarborough Museum Scarborough Historic houses Local history, 1910s period house, mid-19th century log house, carriage works, operated by the City of Toronto government [36]
Old Toronto Historic house Historic mansion reflecting four generations and periods, operated by the City of Toronto government
Taras Shevchenko Museum Old Toronto Biographical [37]
Old Toronto 29,190 (2018) Textile Includes fabrics, ceremonial cloths, garments, carpets, quilts and related artifacts [38]
Old Toronto Art Operated by Toronto Metropolitan University, includes gallery spaces for photography, new media, installation art and film
Old Toronto Literature Changing exhibits of books, art, documents and other literary works from its collections
Tollkeeper's Cottage Museum Old Toronto Historic house 1800s heritage museum, an example of tollkeeper's cottages in Ontario during the 19th century
Multiple Includes local history and industry museum, art gallery, theatre, operated by the City of Toronto government
Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art Old Toronto Art [39]
Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre Old Toronto History (law enforcement) [40]
Toronto Railway Museum Old Toronto Railway [41]
TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library Old Toronto Literature [42]
Toronto Scottish Regiment Museum Etobicoke Military (regimental)
Old Toronto Art Small park with changing sculpture exhibits [43]
Old Toronto History (postal) Historic working post office and museum [44]
Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch Old Toronto Cultural/ethnic Located in the St. Volodymyr Institute, Ukrainian art, folk art, clothing, jewelry, religious objects, heritage and culture [45]
Zion Schoolhouse North York Living A living history museum for education, situated in a one-room schoolhouse built in 1869 (period restorations c. 1910). Operated by the City of Toronto Cultural Services. [46]

Non-permanent museums

of Toronto is a "pop-up" museum that provides exhibitions throughout the Greater Toronto Area, and does not have a physical location. It attempts to celebration the evolution of local communities, cultures, and urban and natural spaces of Toronto.[47]

Theatre Museum Canada presently hosts travelling exhibits in various venues in Toronto. The museum's administrative offices are located in Toronto. In 2011, the museum announced it would move into a permanent facility at 355 King Street West. The museum would be situated inside the King Blue condominium development in the Entertainment District.[48]

Former museums

Relocated

The following table includes museums whose facilities were formerly located in Toronto, although have since moved beyond the city limits.

Name ImageTypeYear openedYear closed in TorontoNew locationSummary
Canada's Sports Hall of FameSports19552006Calgary, AlbertaThe Canadian hall of fame and museum was located at Exhibition Place from 1955 to 2006. It was situated in the former officers' quarters of New Fort York (pictured) from 1955 to 1957, the Press Building from 1957 to 1961, and the Hall of Fame building from 1961 to 2006. The hall of fame museum was closed in 2006 to make way for BMO Field. The organization reopened its hall of fame museum in Calgary in 2011.
Canadian Air and Space MuseumAviation19972011Springwater, OntarioThe museum's collection put in storage in 2011, after the closure of its facility in Downsview Park. The museum's office is presently based in Mississauga-based offices of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. In 2019, a permanent home for the museum was found at Edenvale Airport in Springwater, Ontario. The museum will be renamed the Canadian Air and Space Conservancy upon its reopening.

Defunct

The following list includes former museums in Toronto that were closed.

Name ImageTypeOpenedClosedSummary
Canada's Design MuseumDesign20122019Housed within the original Toronto Stock Exchange building, the museum was operated by Design Exchange
Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame MuseumSportsTemporary home for the museum for the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was situated at Downsview Park.
CBC MuseumMedia19942017Located in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre
Children's Own MuseumChildren's19972002[49] Originally opened as a temporary exhibit at the Harbourfront Centre, it was later relocated to the McLaughlin Planetarium in 1998.
McLaughlin PlanetariumPlanetarium19681995The building was closed in 1995, and was later sold to the University of Toronto in 2009. The university has announced plans to demolish the structure to make way for additional facilities.
Museum of Inuit ArtArt20072016[50] [51] Located within Queen's Quay Terminal. Not to be confused with the Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art (see table on current museums).
Parliament Interpretive CentreMilitary20122015Built atop the First Parliament Building of Upper Canada. The museum was opened from 2012 to 2015 as a part of War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations, and focused on the settlement of York during the war.
Olympic Spirit TorontoSports20042006An Olympics-themed sports museum. It was located in 35 Dundas Street East. Its building is presently used as the television studios for Rogers Communications' Citytv and Omni Television.
Toronto Free GalleryArt2004Non-profit activist gallery. Opened in 2004, and relocated buildings in 2008.
Toronto Maritime MuseumMaritime19582008Established as the Marine Museum of Upper Canada, it was located at Stanley Barracks, it moved to a building at Queens Quay in 1999, before closing in 2008.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 48th Highlanders Museum. 48highlanders.com. 2010. Canadian Armed Forces. 28 September 2019.
  2. Web site: A Space Gallery . aspacegallery.org. A Space Gallery. September 28, 2019.
  3. Web site: Aga Khan Museum . October 12, 2020.
  4. Web site: The Applewood Shaver Homestead . applewoodshaverhouse.ca . Applewood Shaver House . September 28, 2019.
  5. Web site: The Art Gallery of Ontario . October 12, 2020.
  6. April 2019. Exhibition and museum visitor figures 2018. The Art Newspaper. 311. xv.
  7. Web site: Art Gallery of York University . October 12, 2020.
  8. Web site: By the numbers . Art Museum at the University of Toronto 2017–2018 Annual Report . University of Toronto. September 28, 2019 . 2018. 12.
  9. Web site: BSM 2018 Annual Review. 16. Bata Shoe Museum. 2019. 3 August 2019.
  10. Web site: Black Creek Pioneer Village . October 16, 2020.
  11. Web site: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. City of Toronto. 2018. 28 September 2019. Toronto 2018 Budget. 2.
  12. Web site: Welcome to Campbell House Museum . April 6, 2020.
  13. Web site: Canadian Language Museum . October 16, 2020.
  14. Web site: About Casa Loma. Liberty Entertainment Group. 2018. 28 September 2019. casaloma.ca.
  15. Web site: Cedar Ridge Creative Centre. City of Toronto. 2019. 28 September 2019. toronto.ca.
  16. Web site: Colborne Lodge . City of Toronto . October 18, 2020.
  17. Web site: Doris McCarthy Gallery. University of Toronto Scarborough. 20 October 2015.
  18. Web site: Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Foundation . October 18, 2020.
  19. Web site: Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery. City of Toronto. 2019. 28 September 2019.
  20. Web site: About Us. arcturus.ca. Gallery Arcturus. 2019. 28 September 2019.
  21. Web site: Official Site . Hockey Hall of Fame . April 10, 2020.
  22. Web site: Official site . InterAccess . April 10, 2020.
  23. Web site: Gallery . Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
  24. Web site: HOME. lakeshoregrounds.
  25. Web site: Baycrest Centre - Heritage Museum. www.baycrest.org.
  26. Web site: 2018 by the Numbers. Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada Annual Report 2018. Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada. 2019. 28 September 2019.
  27. Web site: MZTV - MZTV Museum of Television.
  28. Web site: Neilson Park Creative Centre. www.neilsonparkcreativecentre.com.
  29. Web site: Performance Target Discussions. Annual Report 2017–2018. Ontario Science Centre. 2018. 3 August 2019.
  30. Web site: Open Studio – Contemporary Printmaking Centre.
  31. Web site: Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books. Toronto Public Library.
  32. Web site: Annual Reports. thepowerplant.org. The Power Plant. 2019. 28 September 2019.
  33. https://www.beth-tzedec.org/page/Beth Tezedec Synagogue website
  34. The Royal Ontario Museum Draws Highest Attendance Numbers in its History. Royal Ontario Museum. rom.on.ca. 2 May 2018. 17 August 2018.
  35. Web site: copticmuseum-canada.org.
  36. Web site: Scarborough Museum – City of Toronto.
  37. Web site: Taras Shevchenko Museum.
  38. Web site: By the numbers. 13. Annual Report 2017–2018. Textile Museum of Canada. 2018. 3 August 2019.
  39. Web site: Art. www.td.com.
  40. Web site: Toronto Police Service.
  41. Web site: Toronto Railway Museum . October 24, 2020.
  42. Web site: Branch Summary Statistics: January to December 2017. 2017 Annual Performance Measures and Benchmarks. Toronto Public Library. 20. 30 April 2018. September 29, 2019.
  43. Web site: Toronto Sculpture Garden . City of Toronto . April 10, 2020.
  44. Web site: Toronto's First Post Office . Town of York Historical Society . April 10, 2020.
  45. Web site: Ukrainian Museum of Canada•Ontario Branch. Ukrainian Museum of Canada•Ontario Branch.
  46. Web site: Historic Zion Schoolhouse . North York Historical Society . April 7, 2020.
  47. Web site: Toronto Stories . Myseum . April 10, 2020.
  48. Web site: The King-Spadina boom: What's behind the growth at Toronto's hottest intersection. Gee. marcus. 14 July 2017. 29 September 2019. The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc..
  49. Web site: Children's Own Museum to return – on wheels. Gordon. Andrea. 16 October 2011. 29 September 2019. The Toronto Star. Torstar Corporation.
  50. Web site: 'Small but mighty' Canadian Museum of Inuit Art closing its doors . . April 19, 2016 . 2016-05-30.
  51. Web site: Museum of Inuit Art . May 29, 2016 . 2016-05-30.

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