The Canadian Canoe Museum — Attraction in Peterborough

I wasn’t sure I would be interested in looking at canoes but wanted to go to see the architecture and grounds but I went into the building and was pleasantly surprised at how well the museum has been designed. The lobby is bright and open and going upstairs to see the main exhibit space brought me past a window wall showing the storage space of all the canoes not currently in the main exhibit. What an excellent idea to allow visitors to see all the canoes in storage. Then going into the main exhibit space felt very emotionally engaging with the directed lighting and ambient sounds of birds and water. Very meditative. Plus the canoes are just stunning and from all over the world. Beautiful. Plus lots of infographics and descriptions and multimedia displays make it very interactive. Even has a central craft table where you can cut out a canoe template and decorate it. Not just for kids cause I did it! And I appreciated the focus on aboriginal communities and their focal contributions to the craft and history of the canoe in North America. Then I went outside to walk around the grounds, which were nicely designed with boardwalks and the most stunning dock I have ever seen. And it ties right into the local walking trail for those that want a longer walk. I didn’t eat at the museum but it was a nice space indoor and out. This museum is...

Newly opened, the Canadian Canoe Museum has done a fabulous job or putting into true perspective the history of the canoe, loooong before Canada became Canada, and well after also. Their collection of old canoes, from dugout canoes, to birchbark canoes to cedar strip and beyond, is outstanding. Many are warehoused, and you can see into the warehouse if you walk up a flight of stairs. Well worth a look if you can manage stairs. They would do well to have a video camera, on theain floor, with a wide angle lense, running during operating hours for those with strollers, wheelchairs, mobility issues, breathing issues, or other restrictions that impeded access to that large viewing platform, that allows for viewing into the warehouse. The history of the canoe and its uses, and the people who used, and made them, is well documented. There is an "order here and we'll bring it to you" restaurant on the main floor, as well as a nicely curated gift store. Elevators to the top floor, (but not the warehouse viewing area) or stairs, are available to choose from. Behind the museum is a path which takes you to canoe museum rentals ($60 for the day, $30 for half a day), which goes right down to Ashburnham Lock 20. There is a kids camp run out of the museum too. Free parking for the museum is across the road from the...

The Canadian Canoe Museum is awesome! Anyone who has a love for canoeing will enjoy this museum. They have a very impressive collection of canoes. My favourites were Bill Mason's, Pierre Trudeau's, Gordon Lightfoot's, The royal family, and The Starkell's canoes! I will be returning for another visit once the museum moves to the new location on the river. The current building looks a little depressing from the outside but once you get inside you realize how amazing this place is. The only complaint I have is that while I was there, the Gordon Lightfoot plaque with the music wasn't working, so I couldn't hear what the song Canary Yellow Canoe sounds like. This song is hard to find because it is not on Youtube or Spotify or anywhere else on the internet and the only way to hear it is by buying the 4 CD box set that costs $55!. Hopefully they get the speakers fixed soon. When we arrived the person at the front desk gave us a great introduction and he was very excited to see us. We also had the whole museum to ourselves as we were the first to arrive all day. Other people did show up throughout the day. I hope you enjoy the museum as...