Our History

Muskoka Heritage Place is enriched with history. There is always something to learn about us:

• 1958: Muskoka Museum opens on Caroline Street
• 1960: Huntsville Rotary Club appointed by Town of Huntsville to operate the Muskoka Museum
• 1961: Rotary purchased part of Watson Farm for half of market value for a Pioneer Village
• 1964: Hill, Darling and Hares House on site
• 1965: Construction begins on new Muskoka Museum
• 1966: Watson Workshop moved to village
• 1967: New Muskoka Museum opens, school, store and blacksmith shop moved to Village location
• 1971: Muskoka Pioneer Village officially opens; entrance near the Hill House
• 1971: Friends of Muskoka Pioneer Village organized to support village operations
• 1972: Boles Barn moved to village, serves as admissions building
• 1974: Livery built
• 1974: First Sawmill moved to village
• 1976: Church and Inn moved to village
• 1980: Town of Huntsville assumes responsibility for daily operations
• 1981: Spence Inn renovated and opened by Lieutenant-Governor John Aird Black
• 1983: Maw House moved to village
• 1984: Huntsville and Lake of Bays Rail Society formed
• 1985: Ashworth Hall moved to village
• 1987: Cann Lake property purchased
• 1988: Great Pumpkin Trail, annual family Hallowe’en event begins
• 1994: Muskoka Museum display “Muskoka at Work and Play” opens
• 1994: Village admissions moved to Muskoka Museum addition.
• 1997: Name changed to Muskoka Heritage Place, Portage Railway begins construction
• 2000: Portage Flyer train begins operations
• 2001: Lieutenant-Governor Hillary Weston visits Muskoka Heritage Place
• 2002: Indigenous peoples component added to museum and site
• 2002: Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman part of Canada Day celebrations
• 2004: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – Muskoka at War
• 2004: Prime Minister Paul Martin celebrates National Aboriginal Day at Muskoka Heritage Place
• 2004: Portage Flyer Christmas annual event begins on the Saturday before Christmas Eve
• 2007: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – Muskoka Creative
• 2007: Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman part of National Aboriginal Day celebrations and opening of Metis component in Muskoka Museum
• 2008: Muskoka Museum/Muskoka Pioneer Village / Muskoka Heritage Place 50th anniversary
• 2009: Portage Flyer closed for the season. Rotary Village Station and track re-aligned due to Canada Summit Centre construction
• 2009: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – The Story of Steam
• 2010: Portage Flyer and Rotary Village Station re-open
• 2010: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – Gr8 Nations, G8 Exhibit
• 2011: Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town partially filmed in the Village
• 2012: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – Parks 101, 101st anniversary of Parks Canada
• 2014: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – War: What is it good for?, 100th anniversary of the Great War/WWI
• 2019: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit – Healthy Huntsville, History of Healthcare in Huntsville, in collaboration with Huntsville District Memorial Hospital/Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary, Huntsville Hospital Foundation 
• 2021: Muskoka Museum temporary exhibit - A Tough Go, a brief overview of the hardships the settlers experienced in travelling to Muskoka and survival for the first few years.