Backus Mill Heritage and Conservation Centre, National historic gristmill in Norfolk County, Canada
Backus Mill Heritage and Conservation Centre is a preserved gristmill complex alongside a reconstructed village and educational facilities spread across multiple acres in Norfolk County. The site combines the original watermill structure with fifteen restored houses and exhibition spaces that show how milling and rural settlement functioned in the area.
The mill was constructed in 1798 and became important to the area's early industrial growth. It survived the War of 1812 without damage and continued operating until 1957, making it one of the few mills from that period still standing today.
The restored village buildings showcase how people lived and worked in rural Ontario during the 1800s through period furnishings and daily-use objects. Walking through these structures gives visitors a sense of the skills, trades, and household practices that sustained families in that era.
The site offers camping areas, a lifeguarded swimming area, and teaching programs that run from spring through fall. Plan your visit during warmer months when all outdoor features are fully open and interpretive staff are available.
Every September, the site hosts a reenactment of the War of 1812 with actors in period uniforms performing military drills and establishing period encampments. This annual event transforms the grounds into a living history experience where visitors witness how soldiers and families would have experienced that conflict.
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