Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology National Historic Site — Attraction in Hamilton

This museum may look small and out-of-the-way, but it is such a treasure trove! For a small admission fee (and free if you have a Hamilton library card), you can get an amazing guided tour, which is offered a few times a day. And it was not your ordinary guided tour! It actually starts with a fascinating demonstration of steam power and engines, using small but well functioning models. Then, we were taken into the heart of the building, and I was so amazed by not just the intricate machinery but also the amount of thought the designers put into the architectural and artistic elements (e.g., the painted columns). You could see the machine being run, while my favourite part was going further upstairs and donning an oilers’ cap (albeit a clean version in a much better environment than what the workers had to endure back then).

I would like to give my compliments to our guide, Julia (my apologies if I didn’t remember the name correctly). She exuded passion, like she had a love for the historic site from the bottom of her heart. She was also super friendly and fun, and was able to answer all of our questions without hesitation! Thank you, Julia!

Also, be sure to walk around the grounds to experience the building from different angles and to find the best one for a photo! There was also a train show going on at the time of our visit, with a separate $8 admission fee. We didn’t attend that because of a lack of time, but we still spent a good 1.5 hour on the site. I could easily add an hour or two to that if I had visited the show or any other special events, and explored the...

My friend and I brought our kids here during the March break. Among us, we had 4 kids aged 2, 3, 6, and 7. This is definitely not a place recommended for the 2 and 3 years old. We hadn't done much research, and THERE ARE NO TRAINS! Lol. It's basically a pump house that was used a long time ago to pump water from the lake to a reservoir for the residents of Hamilton. It's still a very breathtaking historic location. The guide was very passionate about her presentation and very interactive with our group. I found it very interesting as an adult taking a step into a piece of history and the technological advances of that time. There are some toys at the gift shop at the entrance. There was also a craft kit available to build an amusement park ride like a roller coaster or merry go round with recyclable materials in the shed. Along with some dioramas and games, which all the kids thoroughly enjoyed, but I'm guessing that was a March...

What a treasure! History so clear and relevant to what matters most: fresh, accessible, heathful water. The guide spoke so enthusiastically, reading her 'audience ' ( 3 little ones and Grandma) as she demonstrated the power of water and the might of steam in a building that echoes the lives of workers as young as 8 years old. I like the appeal to younger ones and the details of fascination to older visitors. At a time when we hear the importance of getting away from the poison of coal fired power and heat, we see vividly what those fires initially provided for the city and its citizens.

Later in the afternoon, elsewhere, I met a woman who said she'd been to a catered shower there in the wood building. Such a jewel! I'll return with the little ones. I saw the wide-eyed wonder on...