Upper Canada Village, Living history museum in South Dundas, Canada
Upper Canada Village is an outdoor museum with 40 buildings from the 1800s, either original structures or careful reconstructions. The grounds along the Saint Lawrence River display a complete settlement with homes, farms, mills, and workshops arranged as they would have been in that era.
The museum was founded in 1961 to preserve buildings and artifacts from communities that were flooded during construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. This rescue effort meant that many historic structures were saved from the water and reconstructed at this new location.
Daily skills and work techniques from the 1800s are demonstrated throughout the site, from baking bread to working at the forge. You can watch how people managed their everyday tasks and what abilities were essential for survival back then.
The site sits along the Saint Lawrence River and is accessible year-round, with special events and activities varying by season. It helps to plan for a slow, leisurely exploration to fully experience the different buildings and demonstrations throughout the grounds.
Many of the buildings come from towns that completely vanished, and were moved entirely to this new location. This relocation represents one of the largest rescue operations of historic architecture in North America.
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