Brantford, the main town in Brant Country, lies on the Grant River about 100 km / 60 mi south-west of Toronto. In the American War of Independence the Six Nations Indians, under their leader Joseph Brant, fought on the side of Britain. When they fled from the USA they founded this settlement in 1784. In 1830 white settlers came here and acquired the area where the town now stands. Economic prosperity came with the railroad; Brantford is situated at the junction of some important rail routes. Alexander Graham Bell also contributed in no small measure to the fame of the town; he solved the problem of passing sound waves along cables and so discovered the telephone, which made him a rich man.
King George II donated the money to the town to build a church in return for its assistance during the American Revolution. This chapel, built in 1785 is the oldest Protestant church in Ontario, and soon made Brantford the religious center of the region.
The tomb of Mohawk captain Joseph Brant is next to the chapel.
Hours:
May 24 to June 30: 1pm-5:30pm
July 1 to August 31: 10am-5:30pm
September 1 to October 13: 1pm-6pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
The Woodland Cultural Centre museum in Brantford displays an impressive collection of Indian artifacts portraying the everyday life of the Indians of the eastern forests. Naturally, the emphasis is on the Six Nations Indians, who are a part of these ethnic groups.
Address: Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford, ON N3T5V6, Canada
Phone: 1 (519) 759-2650, Fax: 1 (519) 759-8912
Hours:
9am-4pm; Sun:10am-5pm; Sat:10am-5pm
Always closed on: Summer solstice - First day of summer (June 21), Labor Day - Canada (1st Monday, September), Thanksgiving - Canada (2nd Monday, October ), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Good Friday - Christian, Easter Monday - Christian, Easter - Christian
The Bell Homestead Estate is a recreation of the house, from the 1870s, with period furniture and some original memorabilia from the life of Alexander Graham Bell. Items on display at the Bell Homestead National Historic Site are from the period when Alexander conceived the idea of the telephone. It was here on July 26th, 1874, that Alexander Graham Bell changed the realm of communications forever.
The Henderson House, also on the grounds, served as Canada's first telephone business office from 1877 - 1880.
Address: Bell Homestead National Historic Site, 94 Tutela Heights Road, Brantford, ON N3T1A1, Canada
Phone: 1 (519) 756-6220, Fax: 1 (519) 759-5975
Hours:
January 2 to December 24: 9:30am-4:30pm; Closed: Mon
Always opened on: Canada Day (July 1), Civic Holiday - ON, BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NWT (Canada) (1st Monday, August ), Labor Day - Canada (1st Monday, September), Victoria Day - Canada
Always closed on: Easter - Christian, Good Friday - Christian, Easter Monday - Christian
Located in Glenhyrst Gardens in Brantford, the Glenhyrst Art Gallery offers contemporary fine art exhibitions with a permanent collection on 16 acres. Over 700 art works comprising historical paintings, contemporary works on paper and modern sculpture.
Address: Glenhyrst Art Gallery, 20 Ava Road, Brantford, ON N3T5G9, Canada
Phone: 1 (519) 756-5932, Fax: 1 (519) 756-5910
Hours:
10am-5pm; Sun:12pm-5pm; Sat:12pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
Tips: Donations accepted. Guided tours are available upon request and by prior booking only.
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Visitors to Myrtleville House in Brantford can view the family's furnishings, early agricultural and woodworking tools, and family heirlooms, some of which date back to the late 1700's. The property also has gardens, a workshop with a blacksmith forge, a reconstructed ice house, smoke house, and bake oven.
Address: Myrtleville House Museum, 34 Myrtleville Drive, Brantford, ON N3V1C2, Canada
Phone: 1 (519) 752-3216, Fax: 1 (519) 752-1931
Hours:
January 3 to June 30: 10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Sat
July 1 to August 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:1pm-4pm; Closed: Sun, Sat
September 1 to December 23: 10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Sat, Sun, Sat
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