About Us
The Oshawa Museum (OM) preserves and promotes awareness and appreciation of Oshawa’s history for the education, enrichment and enjoyment of a diverse audience. As the only community museum in Oshawa we take great pride in showcasing the history of our city from the earliest First Nation occupation to the end of WWII.
The OM is administered by the Oshawa Historical Society, a not for profit charitable institution, as an external agency of the City of Oshawa. We work in partnership with many community cultural organizations including Heritage Oshawa which is the Municipal Heritage Committee, comprised of Council appointed volunteers. Heritage Oshawa advises City Council on properties of cultural heritage value which are worthy of designation.
The services offered by the museum and archives are as follows:
Maintains and offers tours of Henry and Robinson Houses
Curatorial activities – collections management and research
Research and conservation services
Exhibits – temporary, permanent and online
Dissemination of knowledge through newsletters, presentations, publications, social media
Event hosting
Wedding photos
Special event days, open houses, workshops
Participating with community partners in events such as Doors Open, Canada Day, Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival
Curriculum linked educational programs including both in-house and off-site.
Our collection is diverse and highlights include a photograph/postcard collection from the late Thomas Bouckley, newspaper microfilm dating to 1862, reference library featuring local history books, artifacts from the Henry, Robinson and Guy families and other early settlers, medical instrument collection, extensive camera collection, 7,000 item Grandview artifact collection and vast photograph collection depicting Oshawa events, places and personalities.
The Oshawa Museum is an important heritage resource in Oshawa. As one of the few remaining heritage districts and Oshawa's only community museum, the four buildings that comprise the Museum are ideally situated to tell the story of Oshawa from its earliest native occupation to present times. By preserving, presenting and actively connecting people and communities with their past, history organizations make their communities more attractive places in which to work, live, and visit. With astute leadership, compelling vision, engaged partners and resources sufficient to the task, the Oshawa Museum will continue to be a leader in promoting Oshawa's history.
Our Values
Respected
Pro-active outreach
Inclusion
Education
Purposeful Presentation
Diligence
Governance
The Oshawa Museum is administered by the Oshawa Historical Society through a duly elected Board of Directors as an agent for the City of Oshawa. The Constitution and By-Laws (2005) of the Oshawa Historical Society detail the election process and the roles and responsibilities of the Board. Currently there are four regular full time positions (Executive Director, Curator, Visitor Experience Coordinator and Archivist) and two regular part-time positions (1 Maintenance, 1 Interpreter). Seasonal and temporary staff complements the museum's staffing component as funds are available.
The Oshawa Historical Society maintains, as an agent of the City of Oshawa, the Oshawa Museum as a repository for artifacts and written records of historical interest to Oshawa. Funding received by the Oshawa Historical Society from the City of Oshawa is used solely to support the operation and administration of the OCMA. The historically designated buildings, Guy, Henry and Robinson Houses, are owned by the City of Oshawa and in 2010 a 20 year occupancy license was signed between the Oshawa Historical Society and the Corporation of the City of Oshawa. In 2009, the Anniversary Drive Shed was opened as an additional area of exhibition. The Oshawa Historical Society owns the contents of all the buildings including the museum and archival collections.