GUELPH · ONTARIO · EST. 1827

Explore our three
historic sites

One city. Two centuries. A journey through the stories of the place now called Guelph.

SCROLL TO BEGIN THE JOURNEY ↓

01 — HISTORY ON THE HILL

Guelph Civic Museum

1856 The museum lives inside the renovated former Loretto Convent — a limestone landmark on the hill at 52 Norfolk Street, beside the Basilica of Our Lady.

02 — THE COLLECTION

54,000+ objects
& photographs

Archival photographs, documents and artifacts telling stories of past and present-day lived experiences in the place now called Guelph.

ACC. NO. 1979.44.1 — CIVIC COLLECTION
“Every object holds a story. Every story holds a city.”

03 — REMEMBRANCE

McCrae House

1872 The limestone birthplace of John McCrae (1872–1918) — doctor, soldier, and author of “In Flanders Fields” — at 108 Water Street, beside the McCrae Memorial Gardens.

MAY 3, 1915 — YPRES, BELGIUM
A poem written in twenty minutes.
Remembered for over a century.

04 — ALL ABOARD

Locomotive 6167

1940 A 490,000-pound Canadian National Railways “Northern” steam locomotive — known as Canada’s most photographed locomotive — at its permanent home in John Galt Park.

CNR CLASS U-2-e · 4-8-4 “NORTHERN”
Free to view, 24 hours a day.

05 — MAAWNJIDYANG MAA

We come
together here

Where the Speed and Eramosa rivers meet, past, present and future gather — in exhibitions, events and community stories that continue to be written.

Plan Your Visit
FRAME 001 HISTORY ON THE HILL

THREE HISTORIC SITES

Three historic sites. Exhibitions, events and experiences.
Guelph, Ontario.

01

Guelph Civic Museum

HISTORY ON THE HILL

Inside the renovated former Loretto Convent, thousands of artifacts trace two centuries of city life — from Speed River industry to present-day community stories.

52 NORFOLK STREET · TUE–SUN 10 AM–5 PM

02

McCrae House

REMEMBRANCE

The birthplace of John McCrae (1872–1918), doctor, soldier and author of “In Flanders Fields.” Finish your visit in the quiet of the McCrae Memorial Gardens.

108 WATER STREET · MAY–NOV, TUE–SUN 1–5 PM

03

Locomotive 6167

ALL ABOARD

A 1940 Canadian National Railways “Northern” steam locomotive — 490,000 pounds of steel history, and Canada’s most photographed locomotive.

JOHN GALT PARK · FREE · OPEN 24/7

0 Objects & photographs in the collection
0 Historic sites across Guelph
0 The year John Galt founded Guelph
0 Pounds of steam locomotive at John Galt Park

SEARCH THE COLLECTION ONLINE → GUELPH.PASTPERFECTONLINE.COM

NOW ON AT THE CIVIC MUSEUM

Maawnjidyang Maa —
We come together here

MARCH 14, 2026 — FEBRUARY 28, 2027 · GUELPH CIVIC MUSEUM

An exhibition about gathering — on the lands where the Speed and Eramosa rivers meet. Community voices, belongings and stories come together to explore what it means to share this place, past and present.

All Exhibitions & Events

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Hours & admission

Guelph Civic Museum

  • TUE–SUN · 10 AM – 5 PM
  • FOURTH FRIDAYS · OPEN UNTIL 9 PM
  • 52 NORFOLK STREET

McCrae House

  • MAY 1 – NOV 30 · TUE–SUN · 1 – 5 PM
  • DEC 1 – APR 30 · BY APPOINTMENT
  • 108 WATER STREET

Locomotive 6167

  • OPEN 24/7 · FREE TO VIEW
  • JOHN GALT PARK

Admission

  • INDIVIDUAL · $6.25
  • FAMILY (2 ADULTS + 4 CHILDREN) · $18
  • CHILDREN UNDER 4 · FREE
  • FREE PARKING · WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
Visit guelphmuseums.ca

(519) 836-1221 · 52 NORFOLK STREET, GUELPH, ON N1H 4H8