Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site, Historical museum in Dresden, Canada

The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, formerly Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site, is an open-air museum on 2 hectares at the former Dawn Settlement. It holds an interpretive centre, several historic buildings moved to the site, and two cemeteries, one with Josiah Henson's grave.

Josiah Henson, a formerly enslaved man, founded the Dawn Settlement on this land in 1841 as a place for Black people seeking freedom. This community was one of the first successful places in Canada where formerly enslaved people could build their own lives.

The site's name comes from Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, whose title character was inspired by Josiah Henson's 1849 autobiography. Henson had joined the Freemasons late in life, and in the 1920s Black Freemasons made pilgrimages to his neglected house. His funeral in 1883 was one of Dresden's largest, with businesses closed and a 3.2-kilometre procession to the grave.

The site sits along a river and is a peaceful setting that you can explore on foot. Most visitors plan about two to three hours to view all the buildings and look at the displays inside.

The collection includes personal items from Josiah Henson, including a signed portrait that Queen Victoria gave to him. This royal recognition shows how important his work and story were recognized on an international scale.