After seeing their doors shuttered the last few months, some of Hamilton’s most fascinating historic and cultural museums are reopened for visitors.
From National Historic Sites to nationally significant galleries to self-guided walking tours, here’s your round up of where to safely get your history and culture fix in Hamilton this summer.
Please check ahead with attractions for important safety information before your visit.
Canadian Warplane Museum
The sky’s the limit at Canada's largest flying museum, home to 50 aircraft as well as flights on vintage planes you can purchase, including on the legendary Avro Lancaster (the only place in the world you can still fly in one).
Art Gallery of Hamilton
One of the province’s oldest and largest art collections in the province is now to open to the public again with the reopening of the AGH. Highlights include Alex Colville’s famous Horse and Train painting and show-stopping Bruegel-Bosch Bus by Kim Adams featuring a 1960s Volkswagen installation decorated with thousands of mixed media pieces.
Dundurn Castle
Discover Hamilton’s own Downton Abbey and one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Once a key trading location for the Mississaugas and then the site of a military encampment for loyalist soldiers, it later became the opulent home of Canada’s first premiers, Sir Allan MacNab. The beautiful grounds here are perfect for summer strolling and don’t miss their stunning two-acre Kitchen Garden.
Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology
This fascinating National Historic Site pays homage to Canada’s early industrial revolution and houses many treasures, including two 70-ton, Canadian built steam engines, believed to be the oldest surviving ones of their kind.
Hamilton Architecture Crawl
Prefer to stay outdoors while you get your heritage fix? Take yourself on a self-guided tour of the city’s architectural masterpieces and see for yourself how Hamilton’s downtown building stock mixes restored heritage buildings with more modern structures.
The Rock Garden
This breathtaking garden was first built nearly a century ago and is considered the birthplace of Royal Botanical Gardens, now the largest in Canada. Its winding paths lined with stunning perennials lead down a bowl, creating a peaceful escape, minutes from the bustle of the city’s downtown core. Hands down, one of the prettiest National Historic Sites around.
Hamilton Mural Guide
Mural, mural on the wall. There’s lots of gorgeous street art popping up across the city. You just need to know where to look. Here's your guide to discovering some of our most notable outdoor murals.