Haldimand Museums offer a unique and tangible connection between the past and the present through the interpretation of material culture, stories, and lives of real people who once lived in our community. Together, the museums provide a variety of opportunities and experiences that enrich the lives of our citizens.
Early patterns of settlement in Haldimand County are still visible in the landscape and architecture, spanning from the pre-Contact era to the proclamation of the Haldimand Land Grant for the Six Nations and the subsequent migration of Loyalist settlers – Americans, largely of German descent and Mennonite tradition. Throughout the 1800’s, an influx of immigration from the British Isles contributed significantly to the area’s development , as did the small but industrious Black community of the late 19th Century- many descended from ex-slaves of the American South. Since the post-war years of the 20th Century, a significant stream of immigration from the Netherlands has also added to our ever-expanding mosaic of cultural identity, as have the age old traditions of our Indigenous neighbours – the Six Nations and New Credit communities.
This mosaic has inspired a rich and matchless inventory of significant objects, experiences, sites, structures, features, activities, memories, traditions, creations, relationships, performances and celebrations that help to identify today’s Haldimand County.
Haldimand County Heritage and Culture Division runs the following facilities:
Child's Play - A History of Toys 1850s - 1950's
The Heritage and Culture Division provides continuity for the governance, management and administration of museums and cultural centres, and Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Commitee for the benefit of County residents and visitors.
Information on Haldimand Museums and other local heritage sites can be found at http://tourism.haldimandcounty.on.ca