Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Admission to the Collingwood Museum is by donation with a suggested $5 donation per person. Located at 45 St. Paul St. Contact by phone 705-445-4811 ext. 7211 or email museum@collingwood.ca.
The South Georgian Bay Tourism Centre is no longer located at the Collingwood Museum and officially closed in 2024. For regional tourism information, visit experiencesimcoe.ca.
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Temporary Service Disruption
The Collingwood Museum is currently undergoing some exciting updates, including washroom renovations and the creation of a new resource room to better serve our community.
Phase 2 of our washroom renovation is currently underway! The space that formerly operated as a men’s washroom is being turned into a community resource room. Currently, two washrooms are available for public use. Please note that the accessible button to the new accessible washroom is not yet operable, but staff are able to assist patrons as needed.
This ongoing renovation work takes place during regular operating hours. We encourage you to check the museum’s website before your visit for any temporary closure updates.
Phase 2 is expected to be completed by mid-June at which time the three new washrooms and resource room will be fully operational. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to welcoming you into our improved space!
May is Museum Month
Join Collingwood Museum Staff for May is Museum Month, a month-long celebration recognizing the vital role museums play in preserving heritage, fostering dialogue, and strengthening community connections.
International Museum Day
The Collingwood Museum will celebrate International Museum Day on May 16 during regular hours. Residents and visitors are invited to enjoy free admission from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., a great opportunity to explore the Museum’s newest exhibits and discover the stories that shape our shared past.
Visitors can also take part in a free Hands for Heritage activity by colouring a hand and adding it to a community display, celebrating the many hands that make our community strong and supporting the organizations that help keep our local history alive.
Celebrate Culture & Recreation in Collingwood!
Take part in the Culture & Recreation Explorer Passport Program as we celebrate Museum Month in May and Parks and Recreation Month in June! Want to be part of the fun? This is how it works:
Step 1, pick up your passport at any participating location or download the PDF and print it at home.
Step 2, visit all four spots and collect a stamp at each:
- Collingwood Museum, 45 St Paul St.
- Centennial Aquatic Centre, 451 Third St.
- Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste Marie St.
- Central Park Arena, 85 Paterson St.
Step 3, collect all 4 stamps and submit your completed passport to the Collingwood Museum or Centennial Aquatic Centre. Passports must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on June 25.
You will be entered into a prize draw, one lucky winner will be selected! The program runs May 5 – June 25, 2026.
Questions? Email museum@collingwood.ca or prc@collingwood.ca.
Ursula Heller Photograph Collection
We are pleased to announce the Collingwood Museum has entered into a purchasing agreement with documentary photographer Ursula Heller to bring a remarkable collection of photographs home to Collingwood. The collection includes 79 rolls of black-and-white film and 309 prints, an invaluable visual record of a defining era in Collingwood's shipbuilding history.
In 1978, Ursula Heller was granted rare access to the Collingwood Shipyards during a pivotal moment in Canadian shipbuilding. At at time when the industry faced significant challenges, Ursula chose to document the people behind the ships, and the beauty she found in the shipbuilding process.
The Museum is currently seeking community support to acquire and preserve this collection, ensuring it can be shared with current and future generations. Donations can be made at the Collingwood Museum in person or online through the Town of Collingwood's payment portal on the town's website.
To donate click the Donate to the Museum button at the top of this page. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20.00 or more.
Behind the Counter June 5 PA Day Program
Children ages 6-12 are invited to explore Nettleton's Jewellery Store. Through a behind-the-scenes look at artifacts from the Museum's collection, participants will discover the many layers of this unique business before creating their own jewellery and a clock inspired by what they uncover.
Registration opens Tuesday, May 5. Program runs Friday, June 5 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Preregistration is required. $18 per child / $15 for members. Click the button below to register on PerfectMind or call 705-445-4811 ext. 7223.
The affordable recreation program offers fee assistance for Collingwood residents facing financial barriers, covering activities like swimming, skating, museum day camps, and more—learn and apply on the town's official page.
Summer Programs
Children ages 6-12 are invited to spend active and heritage-inspired mornings with Museum staff all summer long! Participants will dive into hands-on, museum-based activities that bring history to life in exciting ways.
Programs run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays), for nine weeks beginning June 29. Preregistration is required. $18 per child / $15 for members. Registration opens at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21. Click the button below to register on PerfectMind or call 705-445-4811 ext. 7223.
The affordable recreation program offers fee assistance for Collingwood residents facing financial barriers, covering activities like swimming, skating, museum day camps, and more—learn and apply on the town's official page.
Hidden for a Century: Inside Collingwood Collegiate's Time Capsule
On May 15, 1925, the cornerstone of the new Collingwood Collegiate Institute was laid during a grand public ceremony. The new building replaced the original collegiate, which had been lost to a devestating fire in December 1923. Carefully placed behind that cornerstone was a time capsule assembled by the Board of Educaton of the day. Inside were documents preserved from the school's earliest time capsule dating to 1879, along with contemporary photographs and records reflecting life in 1925.
The new school officially opened its doors on January 6, 1926, serving generations of students both as a high school and later an elementary school before eventually being sold to private developers. During the building's demolition, the time capsule was rediscovered and donated to the Collingwood Museum.
A century later, the Museum is partnering with the present-day Collingwood Collegiate Institute to present the time capsule contents alongside archival materials generously loaned from the school's collection that capture life at the school 100 years ago.
The exhibit will be on display from April 4 until June 19, 2026.
Museum Membership
Not a member yet? Membership to the Collingwood Museum has its privileges.
Become a member and help support our efforts. In addition to free admission and discounts in the gift shop, members receive monthly e-newsletters that keep you up-to-date on museum projects and events.
To become a member, please fill out the online application linked below. Museum Staff are available to answer any questions you may have in regards to Museum Membership at 705-445-4811.
Click Here for the Online Membership Application
Collection and Research
The museum houses an archival collection that is accessed by researchers from around the world. Photographs of Great Lakes vessels, Collingwood’s historic homes, downtown, and early industries are amongst the most popular items.
Stories from Another Day - A Collingwood Museum Podcast
Stories from Another Day travels through Collingwood's past to find the people, events and stories that made this town into the jewel it is today. Join the Collingwood Museum and host Ken Maher to explore over 160 years of tragedies and triumphs, disasters, and determination.
Check back for new episodes monthly.
Gift Shop
No visit is complete without browsing the Museum’s quaint gift shop. You will find a wide selection of books, games, clothing, small gifts, prints, postcards, and more.
Please come in to the Museum to view available items or call staff with any inquiries.
Virtual Tours
Growing Roots: The Legacy of Smart Bros. Ltd. in Collingwood Self-guided Driving Tour
First World War Virtual Walking Tour
