The Collingwood Museum connects residents and visitors with the community's history through exhibits, programs, events, archives, and educational resources.
Visit the Collingwood Museum
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $5 per person.
Located at 45 St. Paul Street, the Museum offers exhibits, programs, and collections that explore Collingwood's history and heritage. For more information, contact the Museum at 705-445-4811 ext. 7211 or museum@collingwood.ca.
Please note: The South Georgian Bay Tourism Centre closed at the Museum location in 2019. For regional tourism information, visit Experience Simcoe County.
On this page:
Featured Museum Initiatives
Explore featured initiatives, seasonal celebrations, and community programs that connect residents and visitors with Collingwood's culture and heritage.
Ursula Heller Photograph Collection
We are pleased to announce the Collingwood Museum has entered into a purchasing agreement with documentary photographer Ursula Heller to bring a remarkable collection of photographs home to Collingwood. The collection includes 79 rolls of black-and-white film and 309 prints, an invaluable visual record of a defining era in Collingwood's shipbuilding history.
In 1978, Ursula Heller was granted rare access to the Collingwood Shipyards during a pivotal moment in Canadian shipbuilding. At at time when the industry faced significant challenges, Ursula chose to document the people behind the ships, and the beauty she found in the shipbuilding process.
Programs & Events
Discover museum programs, exhibits, and collections that offer opportunities to learn, explore, and engage with local history.
Haunted Tours with Dean Hollin
Join Dean Hollin for tales of Collingwood's haunted past! During the month of October, we're thrilled to host three Collingwood haunted tours. You are guaranteed to have a haunting time hearing terrifying tales.
Join us on Friday, October 23, Thursday, October 29, or Friday, October 30 for a 2 km loop that will last approximately 1.5 hours, starting at 7:00 p.m. Limited tickets will be available for each tour.
Haunted Tours are now sold out! Stay up to date on all our upcoming events by signing up for our newsletter. Be the first to hear about what’s next and never miss an opportunity to join us!
Halloween Crafts at the Museum
Participants of all ages are invited to join Museum Staff on Saturday, October 31, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., for an afternoon of Halloween fun. Create a festive Halloween bookmark and button, and explore the museum as you take part in a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. And, of course, don’t forget to grab a treat along the way, while supplies last!
Come celebrate Halloween with us and enjoy an afternoon of fun! Costumes encouraged. No registration required.
Block Printing Workshop
Join Muckpaloo Ipeelie for an afternoon of Inuit knowledge sharing and interactive learning about Inuit culture on Monday, November 2 in the FreeSchools Room at the Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste. Marie Street, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Make your own printing block based on an original design by Muckpaloo. Open to participants 14+. Space is limited to 25 participants. Registration opens Monday, October 19.
Muckpaloo Ipeelie is an experienced workshop facilitator, public speaker, and community gatherer who creates welcoming spaces for people of all ages to learn, connect, and participate. Her work brings together film, cultural education, storytelling, art, and hands-on learning in a way that feels authentic, engaging, and meaningful for schools, organizations, libraries, workplaces, and community events. Her goal: bring people together through experience and engagement. For additional information, click the button below.
Lighting the Way, November PA Day Program
Children ages 6 -12 are invited to explore the stories behind Collingwood’s historic Nottawasaga Lighthouse, including its important role in our community's past and the lives of its keepers. Participants will create their own lighthouse and discover their own lighthouse keeper name.
The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 20. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27. Preregistration is required. $18 per child or $15 per child for Museum Members. To register, click the button below to visit Xplor Recreation (formerly PerfectMind), or call 705-445-4811 ext. 7223.
The Affordable Recreation Program offers fee assistance for Collingwood residents facing financial barriers and may help cover eligible recreation programs and activities. Learn more and apply through the Town’s Recreation Activities page.
Exhibits, Memberships & Research
Learn more about museum exhibits, membership opportunities, and archival collections that help preserve and share Collingwood's history.
The Ones We Met
The Collingwood Museum is pleased to present The Ones We Met – Inuit Traditional Knowledge and the Franklin Expedition, a travelling exhibition developed by the Canadian Museum of History and the Inuit Heritage Trust. The exhibition explores how Inuit oral history helped solve one of the Arctic’s greatest mysteries, the fate of Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition, culminating in the discoveries of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror in 2014 and 2016. Through photographs, illustrations, audio recordings, and an animated map, visitors will learn about Inuit encounters with Franklin’s crew, early European exploration of the Arctic, and the enduring importance of traditional knowledge. Presented in the four official languages of Nunavut, the exhibition will be on display at the Collingwood Museum until October 31.
From Pen to Page: The Literary Women of Collingwood
Celebrate the women writers, poets, and storytellers who have called Collingwood home. From Pen to Page: The Literary Women of Collingwood explores the remarkable stories, creative voices, and lasting legacies of local women whose words have helped shape our community, our country, and the world beyond.
Museum Membership
Not a member yet? Membership to the Collingwood Museum has its privileges.
Become a member and help support our efforts. In addition to free admission and discounts in the gift shop, members receive monthly e-newsletters that keep you up-to-date on museum projects and events.
To become a member, please fill out the online application linked below. Museum Staff are available to answer any questions you may have in regards to Museum Membership at 705-445-4811.
Collection and Research
The museum houses an archival collection that is accessed by researchers from around the world. Photographs of Great Lakes vessels, Collingwood’s historic homes, downtown, and early industries are amongst the most popular items. To learn more about image reproduction services please contact museum staff.
Collingwood Museum Podcast
The podcast, Stories from Another Day, explores the people, events, and moments that helped shape Collingwood into the community it is today. Join the Collingwood Museum and host Ken Maher as they uncover more than 160 years of local history, from tragedies and triumphs to resilience and transformation.
Check back monthly for new episodes.
Gift Shop
No visit to the Collingwood Museum is complete without exploring the Museum Gift Shop. Browse a selection of books, games, clothing, prints, postcards, souvenirs, and locally inspired gifts.
Visit the Museum to shop available items or contact Museum staff with any questions.
Virtual Tours
Growing Roots: The Legacy of Smart Bros. Ltd. in Collingwood Self-guided Driving Tour
First World War Virtual Walking Tour
