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.

Name Image Neighborhood Area[note 1] Attendance Type Summary Ref.
48th Highlanders Museum Exterior front facade of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Entertainment District Old Toronto Military (regimental) Regimental museum for the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The museum has been situated in St. Andrew's Church since 1997 [1]
A Space Gallery Fashion District Old Toronto Art Artist-run contemporary art gallery [2]
Aga Khan Museum Exterior facade of the Aga Khan Museum Don Mills North York Art Muslim arts and culture [3]
Applewood Shaver Homestead Eatonville Etobicoke Historic house Historic house museum situated in a homestead dating back to c. 1850s [4]
Art Gallery of Ontario Exterior front entrance facade of the Art Gallery of Ontario at dusk Grange Park 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 Exterior view of the Accolade East Building at York University York University Heights 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 Toronto Discovery District Old 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]
Bata Shoe Museum Exterior facade of the Bata Shoe Museum from across the intersection Discovery District Old Toronto 110,334 (2018) Fashion History of footwear from around the world [9]
Black Creek Pioneer Village View of several heritage buildings at Black Creek Pioneer Village York University Heights 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]
Campbell House Museum Front exterior facade of Campbell House Museum Grange Park 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]
Canadian Language Museum Front exterior facade of the Glendon Gallery building Lawrence Park 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]
Canadian Sculpture Centre Distillery District Old Toronto Art Contemporary Canadian sculpture gallery, operated by the Sculptors Society of Canada
Casa Loma Casa Loma 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 Woburn Scarborough 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]
Colborne Lodge Exterior back facade of Colborne Lodge Swansea Old Toronto Historic house Historic house museum situated in a building dating back to 1836, and reopened as a historic house in 1890. The museum is operated by the City of Toronto government [16]
Doris McCarthy Gallery Highland Creek Scarborough Art A contemporary art gallery of the University of Toronto Scarborough [17]
Enoch Turner School Exterior front entrance of the Enoch Turner School Corktown Old 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 Exterior front entrance facade of the Etobicoke Civic Centre Eatonville Etobicoke Art The gallery is housed in the centre block of the Etobicoke Civic Centre [19]
First Floor Gallery & Architecture and Design Gallery Southern facade of 1 Spadina Crescent Discovery District 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
Fort York Birds-eye-view of Fort York Fort York 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.
Gallery Arcturus Garden District Old Toronto Art Free, public contemporary art museum with rotating exhibits as well as workshops [20]
Gardiner Museum Exterior front facade of the Gardiner Museum Discovery District Old Toronto Art Ceramic art
Gibson House Exterior facade of the Gibson House Willowdale 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
Hockey Hall of Fame Exterior front entrance facade of the former Bank of Montreal/Hockey Hall of Fame building Financial District Old Toronto 256,754 (2017) Sports Ice hockey hall of fame [21]
InterAccess Dovercourt Park Old Toronto Art Media arts [22]
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Gallery Don Mills North York Art The gallery at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre houses contemporary art with an East Asian perspective [23]
Koffler Centre of the Arts Interior of Artscape Youngplace, near the entrance of the Koffler Gallery Trinity-Bellwoods Old Toronto Art Contemporary arts centre housed in the Artscape Youngplace building
Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre New Toronto Etobicoke Arts Free exhibit and gallery spaces, workshops, & interpretive tours [24]
Mackenzie House Exterior front facade of Mackenzie House Garden District 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 Exterior north facade of St. Lawrence Market South St. Lawrence Old Toronto Multiple Changing exhibits of Toronto's history, art and culture, located inside St. Lawrence Market
Mercer Union Wallace Emerson Old Toronto Art Artist-run contemporary art centre
Montgomery's Inn Exterior back facade of Montgomery's Inn The Kingsway 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 Lawrence Manor North York Cultural/ethnic Located in the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, exhibits of Judaic heritage and culture [25]
Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada Exterior eastern facade of the Tower Automotive Building from the ground Junction Triangle Old Toronto 30,000 (2018) Art Also known as MOCA. Formerly known as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art [26]
MZTV Museum of Television Liberty Village Old Toronto Media Historic television sets and memorabilia [27]
Neilson Park Creative Centre Markland Wood Etobicoke Art Includes two galleries for exhibits of contemporary fine arts and crafts [28]
OCAD University Galleries People looking at artwork inside the OCAD University Graduate Student Gallery Grange Park Old Toronto Art Art galleries managed by the OCAD University art school, includes its Graduate Student Gallery
Ontario Science Centre Aerial view of the Ontario Science Centre from the northeast Flemingdon Park North York 900,225 (2018) Science Themes include geology, nature, astronomy, music, technology, anatomy, communications [29]
Open Studio Gallery Fashion District Old Toronto Art Artist-run printmaking centre [30]
Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books Exterior main entrance to the Toronto Public Library's Lillian H. Smith branch Grange Park 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]
Power Plant Exterior of The Power Plant Harbourfront Old Toronto 77,243 (2018) Art Contemporary art gallery [32]
Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum Interior view of the exhibits at the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum Casa Loma Old Toronto Military (regimental) Regimental museum of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, located on the third floor of Casa Loma
Redpath Sugar Museum View of Redpath Sugar Refinery from Lake Ontario Harbourfront Old Toronto Food Sugar manufacture and industry in Canada, located at the Redpath Sugar Refinery
Reuben & Helene Dennis Museum Humewood–Cedarvale York Cultural/ethnic Located in Beth Tzedec Synagogue, it contains Jewish art, ceremonial objects and history [33]
Riverdale Farm View of a wind wheel near two 19th century wooden structures at Riverdale Farm Cabbagetown Old Toronto Agricultural/historic farm Working heritage farm with an 1860s to 1920s Ontario focus
Royal Canadian Military Institute Museum Exterior east/front facade of the Royal Canadian Military Institute Grange Park 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.
Royal Ontario Museum Exterior facade of the Royal Ontario Museum from across the intersection of Bloor Street and Avenue Road Discovery District Old Toronto 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 View of a steel black-coloured archway with the words Fort York Armoury written in the centre of the arc. The exterior of the armoury is visible in the background Fort York 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 Steeles Scarborough Art Coptic and Christian art, icons, coins, crosses, manuscripts, pottery, woodwork [35]
Scarborough Museum Exterior facade of Cornell House, with other buildings of the Scarborough Museum in the background Bendale Scarborough Historic houses Local history, 1910s period house, mid-19th century log house, carriage works, operated by the City of Toronto government [36]
Spadina House Exterior back/east facade of the Spadina House Casa Loma Old Toronto Historic house Historic mansion reflecting four generations and periods, operated by the City of Toronto government
Taras Shevchenko Museum High Park North Old Toronto Biographical Life and works of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko [37]
Textile Museum of Canada Bricked exterior facade of the main entrance to the Textile Museum of Canada Discovery District Old Toronto 29,190 (2018) Textile Includes fabrics, ceremonial cloths, garments, carpets, quilts and related artifacts [38]
The Image Centre Exterior facade of The Image Centre at night, with blue and yellow lights illuminating the top portion of the building Garden District Old Toronto Art Operated by Toronto Metropolitan University, includes gallery spaces for photography, new media, installation art and film
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library Interior view of the mezzanine from several storeys above the first floor, at the Thomas Fisdher Rare Book Library Discovery District Old Toronto Literature Changing exhibits of books, art, documents and other literary works from its collections
Tollkeeper's Cottage Museum Exterior view of a white wooden building from the 19th century Wychwood Park Old Toronto Historic house 1800s heritage museum, an example of tollkeeper's cottages in Ontario during the 19th century
Todmorden Mills View of a red-brick path, with a red-bricked mill that has chimney stack built in its centre to the side of the path Old East York East York Multiple Includes local history and industry museum, art gallery, theatre, operated by the City of Toronto government
Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art Financial District Old Toronto Art Located in the Toronto-Dominion Centre, collection of Inuit art, a cooperative project of Cadillac Fairview and the Toronto-Dominion Bank [39]
Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre Discovery District Old Toronto History (law enforcement) Museum on the history of the Toronto Police Service. The museum is located at the Toronto Police Headquarters [40]
Toronto Railway Museum CityPlace Old Toronto Railway Located at Roundhouse Park [41]
TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library Exterior front/southwest entrance facade of Toronto Reference Library Yorkville Old Toronto Literature Changing exhibits from its collections in the TD Gallery. Located in the Toronto Reference Library [42]
Toronto Scottish Regiment Museum New Toronto Etobicoke Military (regimental) Regimental museum covering the history of The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
Toronto Sculpture Garden A grass field with brick pathway lining the side of it. A waterfall and green wall is visible in the background St. Lawrence Old Toronto Art Small park with changing sculpture exhibits [43]
Fourth York Post Office Exterior facade of buildings on the north side of Adelaide Street. Two 19th century brick buildings to the left/west next to a 21st-century glass building. Old Town Old Toronto History (postal) Historic working post office and museum [44]
Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch Harbord Village Old Toronto Cultural/ethnic Located in the St. Vladimir Institute, Ukrainian art, folk art, clothing, jewelry, religious objects, heritage and culture [45]
Zion Schoolhouse Exterior facade of the Zion Schoolhouse Don Valley Village 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

Myseum 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 Image Type Year opened Year closed in Toronto New location Summary
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Sports 1955 2006 Calgary, Alberta The 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 Museum Aviation 1997 2011 Springwater, Ontario The 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 Image Type Opened Closed Summary
Canada's Design Museum The former Toronto Stock Exchange building Design 2012 2019 Housed within the original Toronto Stock Exchange building, the museum was operated by Design Exchange
Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Museum Sports Temporary home for the museum for the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was situated at Downsview Park.
CBC Museum Entrance to the CBC Museum Media 1994[note 2] 2017 Located in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre
Children's Own Museum Children's 1997 2002[note 3][49] Originally opened as a temporary exhibit at the Harbourfront Centre, it was later relocated to the McLaughlin Planetarium in 1998.
McLaughlin Planetarium McLaughlin Planetarium in 2008 Planetarium 1968 1995 The 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 Art Art 2007 2016[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 Centre Military 2012 2015 Built 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 Toronto Sports 2004 2006 An 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 Gallery Art 2004 Non-profit activist gallery. Opened in 2004, and relocated buildings in 2008.
Toronto Maritime Museum Maritime 1958 2008 Established 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

Notes

  1. ^ Area refer to former lower-tier municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto. The lower-tier municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto were amalgamated to form the new City of Toronto in 1998, after the upper-tier government of Metropolitan Toronto was dissolved. The use of the term Old Toronto is a retronym used to refer to the pre-1998 lower-tier City of Toronto.
  2. ^ The collection was started in 1960
  3. ^ Physical museum closed in 2002. Its collection remains in storage.

References

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

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