Hamilton, Ontario Tourist Attractions

Located in downtown Hamilton and brimming with years of rich history in the arts, Hamilton Place has long been the cultural centre of the city. The celebrated venue is nestled amongst some of Hamilton's best known attractions, such as The Art Gallery of Hamilton, The Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and many of the city's historic and architecturally stunning churches.Featuring year-round concerts, dance performance and live theatre, Hamilton Place is known for its gorgeous interior and spectacular acoustics, making it the ideal space to showcase any event.

Situated in a walled garden, Whitehern House is a Georgian mansion with a small garden that was the home of the McQuestern family (1840-1959), and has its original furnishings. The house has multi-layered alterations that reflects three generations of the McQuesten family, from 1852 until 1968.Many time periods are reflected including Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian with original possessions dating up to 1939 when the Honorable Thomas McQuesten was Minister of Highways. The Victorian ideas and possessions that influenced life at Whitehern were about to become part of a bygone era, on the eve of WW II.There were six children among the last generation who never married. In 1959 three of the surviving members of the family bequeathed the home to the City, with all its original possessions.

Hess Village, between Hess Street, George Street and Main Street, is the 19th C quarter of Hamilton, with pretty restaurants, boutiques and some commercial art galleries.

Dundurn Castle, the 40-room mansion of Sir Allan Napier MacNab, Prime Minister of Canada from 1854 to 1856, was built between 1832 and 1835 overlooking the harbor in Hamilton.Overlooking Burlington Bay, Dundurn Castle is a fine example of a mid 19th century Italianate villa set within a picturesque estate. Dundurn Castle tells the story of the family who lived above stairs and the corps of servants who lived and worked below stairs to support their affluent lifestyle. Visit the Hamilton Military Museum and the restored Kitchen Garden, all located in Dundurn Park.William Reid was Sir Allan's gardener for over 25 years. Explore his lovingly restored kitchen garden, where we use 1850's tools and varieties to grow food for DundurnCastle's historic kitchen. Stop by the garden gate for the sights and scents of the 19th century.Hamilton Military Museum investigate the War of 1812, the Rebellion of 1837-38, the Boer War and World War I. Visitors can view a reconstructed World War I trench, a medals display and the changing exhibit gallery.The Coach House at Dundurn is an 1870's Coach House, that serves as a meeting and reception facility to accommodate groups up to 88 people. The Coach House is also home to The Castle Shop.

The Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology includes the history and industrial development of Hamilton. Life at the beginning of Canada's industrial revolution is highlighted in a 150-year-old waterworks.There are two 70-ton steam engines, one engine operates daily and they are perhaps the oldest Canadian-built engines surviving in the country. The Waterworks Pumping Station is a National Historic Site as well as a Civil and Power Engineering Landmark.

Hamilton's Art Gallery contains permanent collections of 19th and 20th C Canadian, American and European art, while showing temporary exhibitions as well.The gallery has a wide ranging collection with everything from historical Canadian pieces to contemporary art.

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, near the cultural centre portrays various aspects of this typical Canadian sport. The history of football and the game's great players, coaches and executives are featured.

The Hamilton City Hall opened in 1960 but was recently renovated. Today it is listed as a heritage building for some of the unique features. Despite this the appearance of this 8 story building is rather unassuming.

On York Boulevard in Hamilton there is one of the largest market halls in Ontario, selling local produce on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton is a living museum featuring the aircraft used by Canadians or Canada's Military from the beginning of World War II to present day. Visitors can climb into the cockpit of a real WWII trainer or a real jet fighter, our Avro CF-100.

The Erland Lee Museum is housed in the Victorian-era home and carriage house (built in 1808) of Erland and Janet Lee. This was the birthplace of Erland Lee, founder of the Women's Institute - established in 1897. Exhibits include artifacts and furniture ranging over 175 years, many of them original Lee family artifacts.

The HMCS Haida is a Tribal Class destroyer and saw service in World War II and the Korean War. It is the last remaining ship of it's class and has now been turned into a museum.