Museum on the Boyne
Museum Exhibits
Visit our local exhibit at the Museum on the Boyne and experience history up close.
Temporary Exhibits
A Tapestry of Voices: Celebrating Canada’s Languages
This exhibit surveys Canada’s rich linguistic landscape, including over 60 aboriginal languages, Canada’s two official language (English and French), and more than 100 languages that immigrants have brought to our shores. The exhibition explores themes that touch the lives of speakers of every language in Canada, such as: How have the languages of Canada changed over time? What happens when languages come in contact? How can our languages be maintained for future generations?
Location: Museum on the Boyne
May 11th – 22nd
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Mobile Masterpieces
Come and see the Museum on the Boyne’s newest exhibit, “Mobile Masterpieces: The Artistry of Postcards Featuring Alliston and other places in the Simcoe Region”! This captivating collection showcases the charm, creativity, and cultural significance of postcards—those small but powerful pieces of art that once connected people across distances.
Whether you’re a history buff, an art lover, or simply curious about local heritage, this exhibit invites you to rediscover the beauty of a bygone era—one postcard at a time.
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Explore the artistry and nostalgia of postcards—small treasures with big stories to tell!
Canada at War
Delve into Canada’s wartime past through a thoughtful display of objects that reflect the experiences of conflict, service, and remembrance. “Canada at War” invites visitors to explore how war has shaped lives and communities across the country.
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Come and explore the material legacy of Canada’s military history—where every item has a story to tell.
C.A. Bisbee’s Mink Ranch
This exhibit highlights the Huron Mink Ranch operated by Mr. C.A. Bisbee in Alliston from 1936-1965. It showcases a prominent local entrepreneur and explores the mink and fox fur industries.
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Permanent Exhibits
“And Here’s Mrs. A.”
Step into the world of one of Canada’s most beloved broadcasters and public figures in “And Here’s Mrs. A,” an exhibit dedicated to the remarkable career of Kate Aitken. Known simply as “Mrs. A,” Kate was a trusted voice in Canadian homes throughout the mid-20th century—offering advice on everything from cooking and homemaking to travel and current events.
Whether you remember her broadcasts or are discovering her story for the first time, “And Here’s Mrs. A” offers a fascinating look at a woman who helped define an era.
On view year-round
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Leaders and Landmarks
Exploring the People and Places That Shaped Our Region
Discover the stories behind the names and faces that helped define our community in “Leaders and Landmarks.” This exhibit invites visitors to explore a curated selection of objects, images, and historical records that highlight influential figures and important locations from South Simcoe’s past.
On view year-round
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Victorian Dining Room
Exploring the People and Places That Shaped Our Region
Take a step back in time and explore our charming Victorian dining room, where elegance and history come together.
On view year-round
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
The Globe Hotel Bar
This historic bar, originally part of the Globe Hotel in Rosemont, dates back to 1858. On the main route through the area, it served as a gathering place for locals and travellers alike.
On view year-round
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Maple Leaf Pottery
Come explore our collection of Maple Leaf and Alliston pottery—beautiful examples of local craftsmanship and ceramic tradition.
On view year-round
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
McDonald Log Cabin
Built ca. 1865 by the McDonald family, this log cabin was part of a farm in Essa Township. Step inside and experience a piece of local heritage.
Location: Museum on the Boyne Grounds
Open year round upon request
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Jeffery Barn
Step back in time with this remarkable barn, originally constructed in 1858 in Bond Head, Bradford West Gwillimbury. A testament to early Ontario craftsmanship, the barn is built entirely from white pine—Ontario’s provincial tree and a major export during the 19th century.
Its construction showcases traditional techniques: the interior framework is held together with wooden pegs, while the exterior boards are secured with hand-forged nails. At the heart of the structure is a swing beam, a hallmark of English-style barns, designed to create open space for threshing and storage.
Open seasonally upon request (June-August)
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Come explore the craftsmanship and heritage of rural Ontario through this historic structure.
Gallery
Art Exhibit
The South Simcoe Arts Council has installed the work of two amazing local artists – Ross Skoggard and Joanne Lomas.
Kathy Ebbinghaus Melanson
Her work often starts with a line drawing and then gets fleshed out with paint and painted
vellum which is collaged freely on the substrate, be it canvas or wooden panels. The decisions of colour and painting technique are largely an intuitive process with layers of paint and collage laid down, spritzed, scrubbed off and drawn through. Then layered again until complete. There is an element of history and archeology with older layers peeking through.
Location: Museum on the Boyne
March – May
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
This artwork changes every three months, so check back for new artwork!
The Comics of Walter Ball
Come check out a selection of comics by Walter Ball—full of charm, wit, and local flavour.
On view year-round
Admission: Included with regular museum entry
Want to see more of his comics? Or can’t make the trip to the Museum?
See our online collection and read through his comics at your leisure https://museumontheboyne.catalogaccess.com/home
Museum Wall of Honour
The Museum on the Boyne’s Wall of Honour pays tribute to those who value South Simcoe’s local history and work to preserve or promote it. Those who receive this award contribute to South Simcoe County by advocating for the area’s local heritage.
Since 2003, the Museum on the Boyne Advisory Committee have elected at least one recipient from a group of nominees. The recipient is recognized at a special presentation during Museum Month in May, with family, friends and heritage colleagues in attendance.
You can download a copy of the Wall of Honour nomination form through the Museum on the Boyne’s Wall of Honour brochure or pick one up at the museum, located at 250 Fletcher Cres., Alliston.
Submit your form in-person or mail your completed form to:
Museum on the Boyne
10 Wellington St. E.
Alliston, ON L9R 1A1
- 2022 – June Chambers
- 2020 – Carolyn Knowles
- 2019 – Tecumseth West Gwillimbury Historical Society
- 2018 – Franz Aschwanden
- 2017 – Donna Wice
- 2016 – Dr. David Chambers and Ron Simpson
- 2015 – Ralph Wilding
- 2014 – Peter Monahan
- 2013 – Brian Baker
- 2012 – Olive Lee
- 2011 – Bill Marks
- 2010 – Joe McCarroll
- 2009 – Mary Munnoch
- 2008 – Ernest Cumberland
- 2007 – Bert Platt
- 2006 – Gordon Wright, Allan Anderson and Betty Anderson
- 2005 – Burton Ford
- 2004 – Earl Hansen
- 2003 – Shirley Gibson
You can contact the museum for more information at 705-435-3900.