Kingston, Ontario Attractions
The city of Kingston lies at the northern end of Lake Ontario, where it becomes the St Lawrence River. It attracts many visitors and is the starting point for cruises to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thousand Islands.
Fort Catasaqui, or Fort Frontenac as it was also called, was established here in 1673 to oversee the fur trade, and for a short time was itself an important fur-trading post.
In 1788 the place was resettled by the English who christened it Kingston. Its strategic location soon made it an important naval base, especially during the 1812 war with the Americans.
After the war the English built the Rideau Canal, linking Montréal with the Great Lakes, via the valley of the Ottawa River.
Kingston rapidly expanded between 1841 and 1844 when it was the capital of Upper Canada.
Fort Catasaqui, or Fort Frontenac as it was also called, was established here in 1673 to oversee the fur trade, and for a short time was itself an important fur-trading post.
In 1788 the place was resettled by the English who christened it Kingston. Its strategic location soon made it an important naval base, especially during the 1812 war with the Americans.
After the war the English built the Rideau Canal, linking Montréal with the Great Lakes, via the valley of the Ottawa River.
Kingston rapidly expanded between 1841 and 1844 when it was the capital of Upper Canada.
Fort Henry National Historic Site
Fort Henry was built on the river between 1812 and 1837 to defend Kingston and to bar the way to the St Lawrence, but it never came under attack.
Nowadays the fort houses a museum of British-Canadian military history. In summer students from Kingston's Royal Military College re-enact the 19th C ceremonial retreat at sunset on Mondays, Wednesdays and at weekends if the weather is fine.
All values are in Canada Dollars
Nowadays the fort houses a museum of British-Canadian military history. In summer students from Kingston's Royal Military College re-enact the 19th C ceremonial retreat at sunset on Mondays, Wednesdays and at weekends if the weather is fine.
Hours
May 21 to September 11
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
| Adult | $ 14.25 |
| Senior | $ 13.00 |
| Child 5-18 | $ 9.95 |
| Child 4 & under | $ 3.00 |
| Child 2 & under | FREE |
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Bellevue House National Historic Site
The Villa Bellevue, built in 1840 near the university, is modeled on an Italian Palazzo. The home belonged to Sir John MacDonald, Prime Minister from 1867 to 1873, and is furnished as it was at that period.
Today the home is the Bellevue House National Historic Site of Canada and has been restored to it's original glory. Costumed interpreters help to bring the mid 19th C back to life.
Today the home is the Bellevue House National Historic Site of Canada and has been restored to it's original glory. Costumed interpreters help to bring the mid 19th C back to life.
Bellevue House National Historic Site
35 Centre Street
Kingston, ON K7L4E5
Canada
35 Centre Street
Kingston, ON K7L4E5
Canada
Phone 1 (613) 545-8666
Fax 1 (613) 545-8721
Hours
April 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
June 1 to September 3
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
September 4 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
City Hall
Kingston's City Hall, opposite the harbor, dates from 1844 and its sandstone architecture is indicative of the hopes once cherished by the people of Kingston that their city might become the capital of all Canada.
The Law Courts and the University also date from the 19th century.
The Law Courts and the University also date from the 19th century.
Correctional Service of Canada Museum (forrmerly Penitentiary Museum)
Housed in the original warden's residence, the Penitentiary Museum in Kingston presents the history of Canada's federal penitentiaries. Exhibits include methods of punishment, homemade weapons, and prisoners inventions.
Frontenac County Schools Museum
The Frontenac County Schools Museum features a heritage school room (1900-1920), archival collection (late 19th-20th C), and public school elementary records. Visitors can sit in a wooden desk, write on a slate with a slate pencil or browse through an old Ontario reader.
Hours
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
September 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | Closed | 9:30 | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Canada Day (July 1)
Civic Holiday - ON, BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NWT (Canada) (1st Monday, August )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Canada Day (July 1)
Civic Holiday - ON, BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NWT (Canada) (1st Monday, August )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
International Hockey Museum
Photographs, skates, hockey sticks and pucks dating back to the turn of the century are on display at Kingston's International Hockey Museum, as well as a collection of hockey statistics and player biographies.
International Hockey Museum
227 York Street
Kingston, ON K7L4V6
Canada
227 York Street
Kingston, ON K7L4V6
Canada
Phone 1 (613) 544-2355
Fax 1 (613) 544-2844
Hours
June 15 to September 3
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
MacLachlan Woodworking Museum
At the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum in Kingston, visitors can see demonstrations such as candle-making, wool spinning, blacksmithing, cedar shake-making and bread-baking in an outdoor oven. The Museum is housed in a 19th C log house with more than 5,000 tools of woodworking and other trades on display.
MacLachlan Woodworking Museum
2993 Highway 2 East
Kingston, ON
Canada
2993 Highway 2 East
Kingston, ON
Canada
Phone 1 (613) 542-0543
Fax 1 (613) 547-5968
Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston
The shipping museum in a former shipyard / dry dock on Lake Ontario has various types of steam and sailing ship on display, a reminder that Kingston was at one time important for its shipyards.
The museum has both marine related displays as well as a small fine art collection.
All values are in Canada Dollars
The museum has both marine related displays as well as a small fine art collection.
Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston
55 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L2Y2
Canada
55 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L2Y2
Canada
Phone 1 (613) 542-2261
Fax 1 (613) 542-0043
Hours
March 1 to May 23
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
May 24 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Family | $ 20.00 |
| Adult | $ 8.50 |
| Senior over 60 | $ 7.75 |
| Students | $ 6.00 |
| Child | $ 5.50 |
| Child 4 & under | FREE |
Military Communications and Electronics Museum
The history of Canadian military communication from 1867 to present is highlighted through themed exhibits at the Military Communications & Electronic Museum. The museum is located at CFB Kingston.
Military Communications and Electronics Museum
Box 17000, Station Forces
Kingston, ON K7K7B4
Canada
Box 17000, Station Forces
Kingston, ON K7K7B4
Canada
Phone 1 (613) 541-5395
Fax 1 (613) 540-8111
Hours
May 1 to September 6
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Museum of Health Care at Kingston
The Museum of Health Care in Kingston is located in the Ann Baillie Building, a historic turn of the 20th C limestone building on George Street on the property of the Kingston General Hospital. The story of Canadian health and medicine tells how people have preserved health and managed disease, pain, and suffering. Over 27,000 artifacts dating from the late 18th C to present day are housed at the museum. These include medical, surgical and laboratory instruments, life support machines and nursing gear.
Pump House Steam Museum
The Pump House Steam Museum in Kingston is in a former pumping station which was built in 1849. The two pumps also date from this period. All the machines on display have been restored to full working order.
Pump House Steam Museum
23 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L2Y2
Canada
23 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L2Y2
Canada
Phone 1 (613) 546-4696
Fax 1 (613) 547-5968
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