I’ll be honest. Being such a lover of history, I sometimes feel that Ontario lacks interesting historic sites open to the public.
Determined to give Ontario the benefit of the doubt, I often spend my free time researching historic sites in Ontario to visit. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Hamilton has quite a few historic houses and museums available for tours. My best friend and I vowed to visit them all and learn what we could about the history of our own backyard.
If you are ever looking for things to do in the Hamilton area, I recommend checking out these historic houses!
Whitehern Historic House & Garden
Whitehern was the first historic house in Hamilton that I visited and I absolutely loved it. Situated in downtown Hamilton, Whitehern is considered to be one of the finest examples of a historic home in Canada.
Three generations of Hamilton’s prominent McQuesten family lived at Whitehern from 1852 until 1968. Their history includes several distinguished members who were responsible for the development of Hamilton and Ontario. In 1969, the three surviving members of the family donated the home to the City with all its original contents.
The house is absolutely beautiful, filled with Victorian household items, and there is also a lovely walled garden.
Dundurn National Historic Site
Dundurn is probably the most well-known historic site in Hamilton.
The 40-room villa was built in the 1830’s on the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British during the War of 1812.
Dundurn was once home to Sir Allan MacNab, Premier of Canada from 1854 to 1856. A tour of Dundurn Castle tells the story of the family who lived upstairs and the servants who lived and worked downstairs. Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall (Princes Charles’ wife), is the museum’s Patron. She is also the great, great, great granddaughter of Sir Allan MacNab!
Dundurn gives me major Downton Abbey vibes!
https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/dundurn-national-historic-site
Battlefield House Museum & Park
Located in Stoney Creek, Battlefield house was built in 1796 by the Gage family. The Gages worked the land with their ten children and were well-known in the Stoney Creek community.
During the War of 1812, the family retreated to their cellar as the Battle of Stoney Creek raged outside their home. The battle was a victory for the British, and a turning point in the defense of Upper Canada.
On June 6, 1913, Queen Mary gave the signal to unveil a 100-foot-high Battlefield Monument. The monument commemorates the soldiers who died in the battle 100 years earlier. The monument sits up on a hill just above Battlefield House so make sure to check it out after your tour.
Erland Lee Museum
Also located in Stoney Creek, the Erland Lee Museum is a farmhouse that was owned by the Lee family. The home originated as a log cabin, built in 1808. An addition was built onto the cabin in 1873 by Abram Lee.
The home is recognized as being the birthplace of the world’s first Women’s Institute. In 1897, Abram’s son, Erland, invited Alice Hoodless to deliver a speech at the annual “Ladies Night” held by the Farmer’s Institute of Stoney Creek. Alice suggested during this speech that domestic education of isolated rural women could be achieved through an organization for women. Erland then suggested that women interested in discussing the formation of such a group should meet again the following week. At the second meeting, 101 rural Canadian women agreed to create a Women’s Institute. This institute would become the largest international rural women’s movement ever established.
Most of the Erland Lee Museum focuses on household items from the time of Erland and Janet. The dining room table on which Janet Lee wrote the first Women’s Institute constitution still stands in its original location. The original constitution is also on display!
The Lee family lived in the house from 1808 until 1970. It is now owned and operated by the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario.
Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum
Located in Ancaster, Fieldcote is a cultural heritage centre with an emphasis on local history. Although Fieldcote is not a furnished historic home, I really enjoyed the exhibition that was on when I visited.
Fieldcote also has a beautiful park, perfect for picnics.
https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/fieldcote-memorial-park-museum
Griffin House
Also located in Ancaster, Griffin House has such a fascinating historical background. I highly recommend visiting this site!
Enerals Griffin was an African-American man born into slavery in Virginia in 1794. Enerals and his wife Priscilla arrived to freedom in Canada in 1828 and purchased this home in Ancaster. There are many theories on how Enerals was freed. One theory is that his Master was dying and agreed to free Enerals before his death. Another theory is that he was not freed, but managed to escape slavery. Enerals defies the average circumstances of an African-American at the time. Not only was he literate, but he also had a decent fortune to purchase the house and its 50 acres.
Enerals and Priscilla had one son, James, born in 1833. James is noted in Ancaster’s records as being “mixed-race”. This is quite surprising because interracial marriages were rare at the time. As James grew older, he helped his father with the farm and the animals. Both men became well-known amateur veterinarians in Ancaster.
The Griffins were one of only a few Black families in the area during those early years. James married a white woman and had 8 children who were blonde and blue-eyed. As time went on, the family’s Black ancestry was completely unknown to many descendants.
Another great aspect of Griffin House is that it is almost completely in its original state from Enerals time. Over 3,000 artifacts were discovered during the restoration of the house!
https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/griffin-house-national-historic-site
I hope that you’ll enjoy these historic houses in Hamilton as much as I do!
