Arnprior and District Museum

About

The Arnprior & District Museum

Story

The Arnprior & District Museum is situated in the former Arnprior Post Office Customs House built in 1896. Based on a design by Thomas Fuller, who was the architect of the original Parliament Buildings in Ottawa (c. 1860), it was saved from demolition by the generosity of David and Jessie Gillies in the early 1960s. This designated building is now recognized as the symbol of the Town of Arnprior.

The Museum houses a great collection of artefacts and photographs spread over three floors that you can peruse at your leisure. In partnership with Algonquin College Applied Museum Studies students the museum has a brand new exhibit called the Prince and the Prior which is dedicated to the anniversary of the visit of the Prince of Wales to Arnprior in 1860 (see http://princeandtheprior.ca/) . The Marshall’s Bay CN flag stop has also made its way into the museum. Conserved and built entirely by volunteers this building is one of the few flags stops left in the province which served small communities and cottage areas in the 19th century. Other exhibits include Kenwood Mills , a 1928 fire engine, scenes of early 20th century domestic life, Charles Macnamara, an ever-changing lumber exhibit, and the Museums fine collection of artefacts belonging to and pertaining to the life of Archibald McNab, the last Laird of the clan McNab.

We are open July 1st, our busiest day of the year.