Woodside National Historic Site

Woodside is a two-story Victorian house located at 528 Wellington Street North in Kitchener. The property spreads across a large green area with trees, hills, walking trails, open lawns, and wetland areas.

The house was originally built in 1853 and became the childhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King from 1886 to 1893. It was reconstructed in 1942 under the guidance of Mackenzie King and his sister before being preserved as a heritage site.

The house displays furnished rooms with the King family's personal belongings, showing how affluent Canadians lived in the late 1800s. You can see the everyday habits and tastes of a privileged household from that era.

The grounds are best explored on foot, as maintained paths connect the main house and garden areas. Shaded spots under trees and open areas provide places to stop and take in the landscape.

The 1942 renovation was unusual because Mackenzie King, by then a leading politician, personally directed details of the reconstruction. His memories of the house from his youth shaped how it was rebuilt, making it closer to his recollection than an exact original copy.