What's On
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Feature Exhibitions
Untold Oshawa highlights stories that have not been included in previous published history books and works. The aim is to expand the commonly accepted narrative of Oshawa’s history, to develop a local history that includes different points of view, and to examine different aspects of our community’s past.
This exhibit is a starting point of a more inclusive story. Here, you will find stories of some of Oshawa’s early Black settlers, a look into the impact of labour unions in Oshawa, and a focus on the experiences of women and children.
Buy your copy of Untold Oshawa: An Expanded History, available at the Oshawa Museum Shop! Shop in person at Guy House or online: 
https://bit.ly/UntoldOshawa
A Carrying Place is on display in Robinson House. This immersive exhibit connects our community with their past, embraces the present Indigenous community, and builds towards a spirit of reconciliation and partnership.
A Carrying Place showcases objects recovered from the Grandview and MacLeod archeological sites and interprets the culture of the ancestral Wendat that lived in this area from 1380 – 1450 CE, and it examines the arrival and impact of European immigrants. This exhibition looks at the Indigenous community today, featuring displays from partner organizations, including the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations, the Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council, and the Durham District School Board.
The Oshawa Museum welcomes you to the new Welcome Gallery, on display at the Verna Conant Gallery, Guy House. The exhibit explores the history of Oshawa through three themes: Movement, Transportation and Growth. Within the themes, stories of businesses, events, and people who left their mark on Oshawa are further explores and celebrated.
The Welcome Gallery is a fun and exciting entry into Oshawa’s rich and diverse history. Admission to Guy House and the Welcome Gallery is free.
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Feature Events - 2025
Halloween at the Harbour – Saturday, October 25, 6–8 PM
Step into Oshawa’s past with a spooky twist! Explore Henry House by lamplight, eerie mourning décor, coffin hardware, chilling paranormal tales, and “killer dresses.” Discover what bats, snakes, and spiders “see” in the Drive Shed, with an interactive science display from Derek Cutting and art by Dani Crosby. Family fun awaits in Guy House with Lego monsters, face painting, and more! Warm up with hot chocolate before you go.
Admission is $5 per person (plus applicable fees). Oshawa Historical Society Members are FREE! Tickets are available in advance or at the door.
Don’t miss this haunting night at the Oshawa Museum!
Tickets: simpletix.com/e/halloween-at-the-harbour-tickets-238341
September 6 - Union Cemetery Tour
2 PM, Meet at King Street Gates, 760 King St. W., Oshawa - $5/person or FREE for OHS, Parkwood or Legion Members
- Take a tour through Oshawa’s largest cemetery, Union Cemetery, where Oshawa Museum staff will share stories of notable people from Oshawa who are laid to rest here. Theme: WWI & WWII Soldiers, in partnership with Parkwood NHS and the Royal Canadian Legion
September 13–14 - Scenes from the Cemetery
2–4 PM, Union Cemetery; tour times: 2 PM, 2:20 PM, 2:40 PM, 3 PM
- Discover the stories of Oshawa's Union Cemetery like never before. Actors bring history to life in Scenes from the Cemetery, a dramatic tour through Union Cemetery.
Ticket link: simpletix.com/e/scenes-from-the-cemetery-2025-tickets-226928
September 16 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6 PM, John Aker Northview Branch (250 Beatrice St. E.)
- Dani Crosby: The Warren Mill Mural
Registration required: oshlib.bibliocommons.com/events/687a547aee7045528b7de294
September 27 – Paranormal Night at the Museum with Supernatural Mysteries Inc.
Various times, starting at 7 PM, Oshawa Museum - $40/person
- Step into the shadows of Oshawa's most historic homes for an unforgettable night of mystery, history, and paranormal intrigue. This event is in partnership with Supernatural Mysteries Inc., a team with over 20+ years of combined experience in paranormal investigation.
September 28 - Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
September 30 - Truth & Reconciliation Day
A Carrying Place open for free admission
12–4 PM, Robinson House
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9 AM–10 AM, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
Instructors:
September 5: Stacey Sullivan
September 12: Ashley Maguire
September 19: Monica Mansfield
September 26: Katie Bushie
October 4—St. Gregory's Cemetery Tour
2 PM, 1111 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Take a tour through Oshawa’s Catholic cemetery, exploring its history and stories of those who are laid to rest here. In partnership with Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services - Archdiocese of Toronto
October 18 – Paranormal Night at the Museum with Paranormal Seekers
Various times, starting at 7 PM, Oshawa Museum - $40/person
- Step into the shadows of Oshawa's most historic homes for an unforgettable night of mystery, history, and paranormal intrigue. This event is in partnership with The Paranormal Seekers.
October 21—Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6 PM, John Aker Northview Branch (250 Beatrice St. E.) *subject to change
Mike McDonnell: European Battlefield Photography
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
October 25—Halloween at the Harbour
6–8 PM, Oshawa Museum - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Join us for a spooky evening at Halloween at the Harbour! Attendees will enjoy various activities around the Oshawa Museum. Explore Henry House by lamplight, with eerie mourning décor, coffin hardware, chilling paranormal tales, and “killer dresses.” Discover what bats, snakes, and spiders “see” in the Drive Shed, with an interactive science display from Derek Cutting and art by Dani Crosby. And, family fun awaits in Guy House with Lego monsters, face painting, and more! Warm up with hot chocolate before you go.
Ticket link: simpletix.com/e/halloween-at-the-harbour-tickets-238341
October 26—Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
November 18—Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6 PM, John Aker Northview Branch (250 Beatrice St. E.) *subject to change
- Jeremy Neal Blowers, Executive Director, Canadian Tank Museum: The Canadian Tank Museum
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
November 30—Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
December 6 - An Evening of Lamplight
6-8pm; $5/person (free for OHS members)
- Make spirits bright and merry at An Evening of Lamplight, where the Oshawa Museum opens the doors to our historic homes to celebrate the holiday season. Check back for more details
RSVP: link coming soon
December 14 - Tea & Talk: Holiday Traditions
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- Celebrate the holiday season and join us for a look at Victorian Christmas traditions, learn more about how Hanukkah is celebrated, and new year celebrations. Topic subject to change
December 21 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
January 3 - Yoga in the Gallery
9am, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Breath deep, and start the new year with sun salutations with Yoga in the Gallery! This is a 1-hour drop in class. Space is limited, so please RSVP to book your spot.
January 19 - Tea & Talk: Chinese-Canadian History: An Oshawa Perspective
1pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- This month's Tea & Talk examines the long, and at times difficult, history of Chinese immigration to Canada from the perspective of local families and their experiences.
simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-chinese-canadian-history-an-oshaw-tickets-197615January 21 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Samantha George, Curator, Parkwood NHS: Behind the Scenes as a Film Set at Parkwood
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
January 26 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
February 16- Family Day at the OM: Map the Museum!
Drop-in, 12-4 PM (last tour at 3 PM) - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Join us for a fun-filled afternoon as you explore the museum! Take a guided tour through Henry House and Robinson House, mapping the locations of fascinating exhibits, including our latest display, Untold Oshawa. Visit Guy House for hands-on historic mapping activities and enjoy a stop by the gift shop.
February 18 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6 PM, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Jill Passmore, Visitor Experience Coordinator, Oshawa Museum: Windfields Farm
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
February 23 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
March 1–2 - Bonnet Workshop, in partnership with The Costume People
9 AM – 3 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $155 (plus fees)/participant
Over the course of two days, you will learn to make, cover, line, and trim a Mid-Victorian wireframe bonnet or tippy hat. This hands-on workshop will equip you with the skills to craft this period-appropriate headwear with accuracy and flair!
For more info and to register, visit: simpletix.com/e/victorian-bonnet-workshop-tickets-203268
simpletix.com/e/victorian-bonnet-workshop-tickets-203268March 10–14 - March Break at the Oshawa Museum
9 AM–3 PM, Oshawa Museum - Admission by donation
- Celebrate March Break with us at the Oshawa Museum! Explore the new travelling exhibit Indigenous Languages in Canada, on loan from the Canadian Languages Museum, and discover the Untold Oshawa exhibit in Robinson House. Learn Wendat words as you tour Henry and Robinson House. At Guy House, uncover the story of the Three Sisters crops. You can plant them and take them home (while supplies last)!
March 18– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6 PM, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Adam Bunch: Toronto Book of Love
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
March 23 - Tea & Talk: The writers of Oshawa (in honour of World Storytelling Day)
1 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)
- World Storytelling Day is March 20. To celebrate, this month's Tea & Talk looks at historic authors who have connections to Oshawa and share stories they have written.
simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-historic-authors-of-oshawa-tickets-205733March 30 - Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
March 8, 15, 22, 29 - Oshawa Museum at Purple Woods
- Look for Oshawa Museum staff at the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, hosted by Central Lake Ontario Conservation Area.
cloca.com/maple-syrup-festivalApril 15– Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
6pm, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Tony Leah: The Truth About the ’37 Oshawa GM Strike
For more info, please visit oshawahistoricalsociety.org
April 27 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
May 3 - Doors Open Oshawa
10 AM–4 PM, Henry House & Guy House, Oshawa Museum
- Tour through Henry House, and Guy House is also open, with an exhibit from the CFUW and the Oshawa Museum Shop
May 4 - Grandview Neighbourhood Walking Tour: A Jane's Walk
2 PM, Meet at Iroquois Shoreline Park, 1300 Grandview St. N.
- Discover the history going back hundreds of years in the Grandview neighbourhood of north Oshawa. This walk is offered for FREE as a Jane's Walk (with donations kindly accepted)
May 11 - Tea & Talk: History and Charm of the Hand Fan
1 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $15/person ($10/OHS Member)simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-history-and-charm-of-the-hand-fan-tickets-213477
- Join Patty Davis of the Costume People for a fun and fascinating journey through the history of hand fans, followed by a demonstration and guidance to catch the attention of that special someone.
simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-history-and-charm-of-the-hand-fan-tickets-213477May 18 - Grandpa Henry's Picnic
12:30–3:30 PM, Henry House, Oshawa Museum - Admission by donation
- We're celebrating all things Henry with tours, activities, and games!
May 20 – Speaker Series, in partnership with Oshawa Libraries
Annual Meeting, Oshawa Historical Society
6 PM, McLaughlin Library Auditorium
- Melissa Cole, Curator, Oshawa Museum: Milk Stories: Dairies of Oshawa
For up-to-date information about the Annual Meeting, please visit the OHS Website: https://oshawahistoricalsociety.org/
May 25 - Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
June 7 - Union Cemetery Tour
2pm, Meet at King Street Gates, 760 King St. W., Oshawa - $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Take a tour through Oshawa’s largest cemetery, Union Cemetery, where Oshawa Museum staff will share stories of notable people from Oshawa who are laid to rest here. This tour will explore the South Presbyterian Section and Section C, highlighting notable people who are buried there.
Get your tickets in advance or at the door - tickets: simpletix.com/e/union-cemetery-tour-tickets-217420
simpletix.com/e/union-cemetery-tour-tickets-217420June 21 - Indigenous Peoples Day
12–4 PM, Robinson House, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations gratefully accepted
- In honour of Indigenous Peoples Day, the exhibit, A Carrying Place, is open for free tours through the afternoon.
June 29 - Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9–10 AM, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations gratefully accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
June 6: Jill Passmore
June 13: Monica Mansfield
June 20: Jill Passmore
June 27: Kristen Allen (Lindell)
July 1 - Canada Day at the Lake
2–6 PM, Henry House, Oshawa Museum
- Look for the Oshawa Museum's booth with community organizations, and don't miss out on visiting Henry House, which is open for FREE from 2–6 PM!
July 5 - Port Oshawa Pioneer Cemetery Tour
2 PM, Meet at Guy House, Oshawa Museum, $5/person or FREE for OHS Members
- Take a walk to Oshawa's oldest cemetery, and discover more about those who are laid to rest within. Along the way, Oshawa Museum staff will chat about places of interest through Lakeview Park.
July 19 - Music in the Gardens with the Oshawa Civic Band
1 PM, Henry House Gardens (date and time subject to change)
- Grab a lawn chair and join The Oshawa Civic Band at the Oshawa Museum for an afternoon of brass band music.
July 20 - Tea & Talk: Summer at the Lake & Lakefront Memories
1 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - $10/person ($5/OHS Member)simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-summers-at-the-lake-tickets-222162
Discover what it was like to spend a summer at the lake more than 100 years ago through the memories of those who lived and worked at Oshawa-on-the-Lake.
simpletix.com/e/tea-talk-summers-at-the-lake-tickets-222162July 24–25 - Holodomor National Awareness Tour
9 AM–3:30 PM, Lakeview Park, Parking Lot C
- The Holodomor National Awareness Tour is a project of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, supported by the Federal and the Ontario governments, that is designed to create awareness of the Holodomor Genocide Famine through a mobile tolerance educational centre. The objective of the project is to build bridges among communities to promote intercultural understanding, awareness and a deeper respect for the democratic values that we Canadians hold so dear, including the importance of human rights, the rule of law and human dignity.
- More info: holodomortour.ca
July 27 - Craft Circle
12:30-3:30pm, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9–10 AM, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
Instructors:
July 4: Roxanna Gumiela
July 11: Manda Cuthbertson
July 18: Elise Kubsch
July 25: Robyn Snow
August 3 - Drive Shed Tours and a look at the Carriage Collection
12–4 PM, Henry House, Oshawa Museum
- To celebrate the McLaughlin Day weekend, take a look at our carriage collection, then take a tour of Henry House.
August 24 - Craft Circle
12:30–3:30 PM, Guy House, Oshawa Museum - Drop-in, free to attend
- Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
- NOTE DATE CHANGE - Due to the Labour Day weekend, this event is taking place on the second last Sunday
Friday mornings - Yoga in the Garden
Drop in 9 AM–10 AM, Henry House Gardens, Oshawa Museum - Free, with donations kindly accepted
- Start your weekend with a yoga practice at the lake! There is a different instructor every week!
Instructors:
August 1: Angela Campbell
August 8: Ashley Maguire
August 15: Manda Cuthbertson
August 22: Sue Bryen
August 29: Kaitlyn Booth
Stay up to date with the latest happenings at the Oshawa Museum
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Plan Your Visit
The Oshawa Museum is open year round for tours - learn more about how you can experience the Home to Oshawa's History!
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Programming at the OM
Featured Education Programs
The Oshawa Museum is proud to offer educators a number of programs and workshops, available for elementary and secondary levels, and we can work with teachers in offering these programs to best meet your needs.
Students gain insight into the various roles that contribute to a museum’s functioning and the special rules we use. The museum tour includes exploring the different homes and engaging in a fun craft activity inspired by the Victorian era.
Teachers can enhance their learning experience by scheduling the Visitor Experience Coordinator to visit their classroom with 3 to 4 Education Kits to create different stations.
You can choose from various Education Kits, including ‘School Days,’ ‘Around the House,’ ‘Bonnets and Breeches,’ and ‘Toys and Games.’ Obtain a complete list by contacting the Visitor Experience Coordinator.
Compare the roles and challenges of being a Victorian Child to those of a modern day child through a number of hands-on activities, which include candle or butter-making, planting, and washing laundry (Spring/Summer). Classes tour through Henry House and learn about the Henry family and how the Henry children would have spent their time over 150 years ago!
Later, the students will use educational items from the museum’s School Days kit to gain a unique perspective on schooling in Oshawa during the 1900s. Finally, teachers can choose between demonstrations on candle-making or butter-making to complete the program.
In this workshop, students learn the different between primary and secondary sources, they learn to think critically about what can be learned from these sources, and they learn about difficulties they can present to researchers. Students are given examples of primary sources from the archival collection of the Oshawa Museum and they go through a worksheet, helping them use the skills they learned about.
Using a collection of letters written by a young man from Oshawa, we will learn about the experiences of those on the front lines during WWI from 4 very different sources. The talk will follow along with William Garrow Jr., the author of the letters, Albert Pankhurst, a young Black soldier, Victoria Donevan, a Nursing Sister and George Finigan, a young man conscripted to fight. After hearing about these experiences and how the fit into the larger picture of the First World War, the students will be tasked with writing their own letter home from the front.
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Groups and the Oshawa Museum
Special group tours (special interest groups, retirement residences, Guides/Scouts, etc.) must be booked in advance so we can best meet the needs of your group and offer you the best experience possible. We cannot accommodate drop-in tours for special groups and/or groups of 10 or more.
To book, contact Jill Passmore: 905-436-7624 x 106 or email programming@oshawamuseum.org.
programming@oshawamuseum.org.
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Teachers
We offer a number of workshops suitable for elementary and secondary classes, and they can be offered virutally or in-person. These include Critical Thinking Using Objects, Working with Primary Sources and a World War I Timeline.
Curriculum based local history programs are also available, and most are adaptable to any grade level, from JK to Grade 12.
Email to learn more about how you can incorporate local history into your classroom.
Leaders
The Oshawa Museum offers badge based experiences for all levels of Guiding and Scouting. We do the work for you, the kids do the learning for themselves.
We have different program options available - to learn more, view our Guiding and Scouting Brochure:
Lectures
The Oshawa Museum has developed over fifty lectures that pertain to various aspects of Oshawa's immense cultural history. Lectures are $50 each, plus mileage if your facility is located outside of Oshawa. Lectures are approximately one hour long and are often accompanied by associated artefacts. An experienced staff member of the Oshawa Museum delivers each lecture.