What's On
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Feature Exhibitions
Opening Fall 2024
Untold Oshawa highlights stories that have not been included in previous published history books and works. The aim is to expand the commonly accepted narrative of Oshawa’s history, to develop a local history that includes different points of view, and to examine different aspects of our community’s past.
This exhibit is a starting point of a more inclusive story. Here, you will find stories of some of Oshawa’s early Black settlers, a look into the impact of labour unions in Oshawa, and a focus on the experiences of women and children.
Oshawa has a unique maritime perspective that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. For centuries, the waterways of Lake Scugog, Oshawa Creek, and Lake Ontario have provided Indigenous Peoples and settlers with a natural navigation system and the backdrop for the commercial, agricultural, and residential development that would later become the city of Oshawa. From Ship to Shore: Looking at Oshawa's Relationship with Lake Ontario celebrates the city's port history, the marine industry, and contributes to an overall sense of pride in being part of a port city.
Oshawa’s waterfront has more than two centuries of stories to tell, from hunting and fishing, ship building, trade, railways, steamboats, pleasure crafts and ocean-going vessels. The waterfront and specifically the Oshawa Harbour have played an important role in the settling of our area, and continues that function as a vital element of the City's growth and economic development today.
Visit From Ship to Shore's Digital Exhibit via Digital Museums Canada
From Ship to Shore is developed with an investment by Digital Museums Canada.
A Carrying Place is on display in Robinson House. This immersive exhibit connects our community with their past, embraces the present Indigenous community, and builds towards a spirit of reconciliation and partnership.
A Carrying Place showcases objects recovered from the Grandview and MacLeod archeological sites and interprets the culture of the ancestral Wendat that lived in this area from 1380 – 1450 CE, and it examines the arrival and impact of European immigrants. This exhibition looks at the Indigenous community today, featuring displays from partner organizations, including the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations, the Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council, and the Durham District School Board.
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Feature Events
Halloween at the Harbour is the Oshawa Museum’s spookiest, family-friendly event! Join us in person from 6-8 pm to see Henry House in mourning, listen to ghost stories from staff, and marvel at ‘killer dresses!’ What spooky sights and sounds you’ll see?
Family fun awaits in Guy House, with interactive activities for all ages. Explore the display featuring local coffin hardware, play games, make a skeleton craft and get your face painted! Warm up with hot chocolate and cider.
Admission is $5/person or FREE for Oshawa Historical Society Members. We look forward to celebrating a thrilling Halloween with you!
November 19– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Oshawa Museum Staff: Book Launch: Untold Oshawa: An Expanded History
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
Preorder your copy of Untold Oshawa: 
https://bit.ly/UntoldOshawa
December 7 - An Evening of Lamplight
6-8pm; $5/person (free for OHS members)
Get your tickets in advance:
January 16 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Adam Arko: Oshawa & Electric Railways
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
*A Special meeting of the Oshawa Historical Society membership will take immediately before the lecture. For more info, please see the Oshawa Historical Society website: https://oshawahistoricalsociety.org/2024/01/02/notice-special-meeting-of-the-membership/
January 21 - Postcards to the Front
1pm, Guy House
About the event:
Postcards to the Front (Canada / Канада) facilitates Canadians sending postcards with messages of support and encouragement to Defenders of Ukraine.
Helen Bajorek and Jean-Michel Komarnicki have invited Canadians to write postcards by holding information and postcard-writing sessions at Legion Halls, in schools, at other community venues, and even via Zoom with members of the Manitoba Women's Institute. Their workshop included postcard-writing where the students crafted messages in three languages: English, Polish and Ukrainian.
This workshop will have three parts, running approximately 90 minutes:
I. Introduction of the project, impacts of postcards at the front lines - 15-20 minutes
II. Introduction to the Ukrainian alphabet, along with some practice and provision of some helpful phrases translated for use in writing messages of support - 15 minutes
III. Postcard writing - 30-45 minutes
For more info: https://postcardstothefrontcanada.com/
February 19- Family Day at the OM: Be Prepared
Drop-in, 12-4pm
February 20 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Eric Sangwine: Mostly True: A Unique History of Oshawa in Art
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
February 25 - Tea & Talk: Be Prepared
We're bringing back our popular Tea & Talk Series, offering an afternoon visiting the exhibit, Be Prepared, held in honour of Thinking Day.
1pm, RSVP required - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tea-talk-be-prepared-tickets-818578890497
March 11-15 - March Break at the OM
The Oshawa Museum is gearing up for an OMazing week of fun in Lakeview Park!
From Monday to Friday, timed tours of the Robinson House and Henry House ($5 per person) are offered at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Drop-in activities are happening Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Verna Conant Gallery at Guy House. Admission is $5 per person and includes a tour and activity. And don’t forget to visit the gift shop for all the best Oshawa Museum swag!
March 19– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Nicole Adams, Local History Librarian, Oshawa Public Libraries: Oshawa’s Voices: Oral History Project Showcase
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
March 24 - Tea & Talk, featuring the Durham Storytellers: Building Bridges
1pm, RSVP required - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/840163701247
March 9, 14, 16, 23 - Oshawa Museum at Purple Woods
Look for Oshawa Museum staff at the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, hosted by Central Lake Ontario Conservation Area. We will be in Heritage Hall sharing information about the Scugog Carrying Place Trail.
April 6 - Oshawa Museum at Purple Woods
Look for Oshawa Museum staff at the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, hosted by Central Lake Ontario Conservation Area. We will be in Heritage Hall sharing information about the Scugog Carrying Place Trail.
April 7 - Show & Share: Paper Items
1-3pm, Drop-in, Guy House
April 13-14 - Gatsby Garden Hat Workshop
Step back into the 1920s with our two-day summer hat workshop, perfect for any 1920s soiree!
Two days, 9am-3:30pm; RSVP Required: https://GatsbyGardenHat.eventbrite.ca
April 16– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Dr. Natasha Dixon-Henry: “I Will Use My Freedom Well”: Emancipation Day and the Practice of Black Freedom in Canada
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
April 28 - Tea & Talk, featuring the Durham Storytellers: Earth Day
1pm, RSVP required - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tea-talk-with-the-durham-storytellers-earth-day-tickets-869134373307
May 4 - Doors Open Oshawa
12-4pm - Henry House is open for tours, and Guy House is also open, with a pop-up exhibit about Oshawa's centennial
May 4 - Walking Tour: Union Cemetery, 1920s Oshawa
2pm - This is offered as a free Jane's Walk, but donations to the museum will be kindly accepted
Meet at King Street Gates (760 King St. W.)
May 21 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Annual Meeting, Oshawa Historical Society
Nicole Adams, Local History Librarian, Oshawa Public Libraries: Oshawa Nursing School
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
For up-to-date information about the Annual Meeting, please visit the OHS Website: https://oshawahistoricalsociety.org/
June 8 - Walking Tour: Downtown Oshawa History
2pm - $5/person
Meet at McLaughlin Branch of OPL (65 Bagot Street)
June 15 - Centennial Tea & Talk - Oshawa in 1924
1pm, RSVP required - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/907817866677
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am
July 1 - Canada Day at the Lake
Check back for more info
2-6pm
July 13 - Walking Tour: Lakeview Park History
2pm - $5/person
Meet at Guy House
July 14 - Grandpa Henry's Picnic
Join us for an afternoon of fun! There will be games, races, costumes, and tours of Henry House!
12:30-2:30pm - $5/person; tickets can be bought in advance or at the door: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/880853786387
July 20 - Music in the Gardens with the Oshawa Civic Band
1:30pm, Henry House Gardens - Bring your own lawn chair!
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am
August 4 - Drive Shed Tours and a look at the Carriage Collection
To celebrate the McLaughlin Day weekend, take a look at our carriage collection, then take a tour of Henry House.
12-4pm, Henry House
August 10 - Walking Tour: History of the Hollows
2pm - $5/person
Meet in front of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery (72 Queen Street)
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am
September 14 - Walking Tour: Union Cemetery- First World War and Second World War, in partnership with Parkwood NHS and the Royal Canadian Legion
2pm - $5/person (FREE for OHS Members, Parkwood Members, and members of the Royal Canadian Legion)
September 17 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Sarah Ferencz, Archivist, Whitby Public Library: History in the 21st Century: Re-examining two of Whitby’s historical figures
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
September 21-22 - Scenes from the Cemetery
2-4pm, Union Cemetery; tour times: 2pm, 2:20pm, 2:40pm, 3pm
Tickets available now! simpletix.com/e/scenes-from-the-cemetery-2024-tickets-179345
September 29 - Truth & Reconciliation Day
A Carrying Place open for free admission
12-4pm, Robinson House
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9am-10am
October 5 - Walking Tour: St. Gregory's Catholic Cemetery, in partnership with Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services - Archdiocese of Toronto
2pm - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
October 15– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Lorna Poplak: The Don
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
October 20 - Centennial Tea & Talk: Reflections of Oshawa: 100+ Years of Cityhood
1pm, RSVP required - https://www.simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-reflections-of-oshawa-tickets-185975
October 26- Halloween at the Harbour
6-8pm, Oshawa Museum
$5/person or FREE for OHS Members
Stay up to date with the latest happenings at the Oshawa Museum
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Plan Your Visit
The Oshawa Museum is open year round for tours - learn more about how you can experience the Home to Oshawa's History!
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Programming at the OM
Featured Education Programs
The Oshawa Museum is proud to offer educators a number of programs and workshops, available for elementary and secondary levels, and we can work with teachers in offering these programs to best meet your needs.
Students gain insight into the various roles that contribute to a museum’s functioning and the special rules we use. The museum tour includes exploring the different homes and engaging in a fun craft activity inspired by the Victorian era.
Teachers can enhance their learning experience by scheduling the Visitor Experience Coordinator to visit their classroom with 3 to 4 Education Kits to create different stations.
You can choose from various Education Kits, including ‘School Days,’ ‘Around the House,’ ‘Bonnets and Breeches,’ and ‘Toys and Games.’ Obtain a complete list by contacting the Visitor Experience Coordinator.
Compare the roles and challenges of being a Victorian Child to those of a modern day child through a number of hands-on activities, which include candle or butter-making, planting, and washing laundry (Spring/Summer). Classes tour through Henry House and learn about the Henry family and how the Henry children would have spent their time over 150 years ago!
Later, the students will use educational items from the museum’s School Days kit to gain a unique perspective on schooling in Oshawa during the 1900s. Finally, teachers can choose between demonstrations on candle-making or butter-making to complete the program.
In this workshop, students learn the different between primary and secondary sources, they learn to think critically about what can be learned from these sources, and they learn about difficulties they can present to researchers. Students are given examples of primary sources from the archival collection of the Oshawa Museum and they go through a worksheet, helping them use the skills they learned about.
Using a collection of letters written by a young man from Oshawa, we will learn about the experiences of those on the front lines during WWI from 4 very different sources. The talk will follow along with William Garrow Jr., the author of the letters, Albert Pankhurst, a young Black soldier, Victoria Donevan, a Nursing Sister and George Finigan, a young man conscripted to fight. After hearing about these experiences and how the fit into the larger picture of the First World War, the students will be tasked with writing their own letter home from the front.
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Groups and the Oshawa Museum
Special group tours (special interest groups, retirement residences, Guides/Scouts, etc.) must be booked in advance so we can best meet the needs of your group and offer you the best experience possible. We cannot accommodate drop-in tours for special groups and/or groups of 10 or more.
To book, contact Jill Passmore: 905-436-7624 x 106 or email programming@oshawamuseum.org.
programming@oshawamuseum.org.
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Teachers
We offer a number of workshops suitable for elementary and secondary classes, and they can be offered virutally or in-person. These include Critical Thinking Using Objects, Working with Primary Sources and a World War I Timeline.
Curriculum based local history programs are also available, and most are adaptable to any grade level, from JK to Grade 12.
Email to learn more about how you can incorporate local history into your classroom.
Leaders
The Oshawa Museum offers badge based experiences for all levels of Guiding and Scouting. We do the work for you, the kids do the learning for themselves.
We have different program options available - to learn more, view our Guiding and Scouting Brochure:
Lectures
The Oshawa Museum has developed over fifty lectures that pertain to various aspects of Oshawa's immense cultural history. Lectures are $50 each, plus mileage if your facility is located outside of Oshawa. Lectures are approximately one hour long and are often accompanied by associated artefacts. An experienced staff member of the Oshawa Museum delivers each lecture.