The Collingwood Museum connects residents and visitors with the community's history through exhibits, programs, events, archives, and educational resources.
Visit the Collingwood Museum
Summer Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $5 per person.
Located at 45 St. Paul Street, the Museum offers exhibits, programs, and collections that explore Collingwood's history and heritage. For more information, contact the Museum at 705-445-4811 ext. 7211 or museum@collingwood.ca.
Please note: The South Georgian Bay Tourism Centre closed at the Museum location in 2019. For regional tourism information, visit Experience Simcoe County.
Temporary Service Disruption
The Collingwood Museum is in the final stages of the Washroom and Resource Room Renovation Project. Remaining work is being completed during regular operating hours, so visitors may experience occasional noise disruptions during their visit. The new accessible washroom is now fully operational. Additional service disruptions will be posted as needed.
Thank you for your patience and continued support. We look forward to welcoming you into our new and improved space!
On this page:
Featured Museum Initiatives
Explore featured initiatives, seasonal celebrations, and community programs that connect residents and visitors with Collingwood's culture and heritage.
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.
Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20.00 or more.
Shipyard Social
The Collingwood Museum’s 10th annual Shipyard Social commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Collingwood Shipyards’ closure, celebrating and honouring the people, stories, and legacy of the Shipyards in a two-day event.
On Friday, September 11, at 1:00 p.m. join us for a commemorative flag raising at the Collingwood Public Library, followed by screenings of The Last Launch: The Rise and Fall of COLLSHIP at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m at the Simcoe Street Theatre. The 2:00 p.m. screening is reserved for shipyard workers and their families.
Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. screening are $10 per person, plus a service fee. Proceeds support the purchase of the Ursula Heller Photograph Collection.
On Saturday, September 12, join the Hard Hats on Hurontario march at 11:30 a.m. at Town Hall, followed by a events at the Collingwood Museum, including a group photograph at 12:00 p.m. and a community social for the remainder of the afternoon.
Explore the tabs below for the full event schedule and additional information.
Programs & Events
Discover museum programs, exhibits, and collections that offer opportunities to learn, explore, and engage with local history.
Frozen in Time Book Club
The Collingwood Museum is hosting a weekly book club with Muckpaloo Ipeelie to further explore the role of Inuit Traditional Knowledge and the recent discoveries surrounding the doomed Franklin Expedition. Grab a copy of Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition by Owen Beattie and John Geiger and join in on the discussion.
Copies of the most recent edition will be available at a special discount for book club participants at the Museum’s exhibit exploration event on September 3.
Participation is free, and the book club will meet on Thursday evenings for eight weeks, beginning on September 10, between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Virtual participation is preferred; however limited spaces will be available for in-person participation. Open to participants 14+.
Inuit Block Printing Workshop
Join Muckpaloo Ipeelie for an afternoon of Inuit knowledge sharing and interactive learning about Inuit culture on Monday, November 2 in the FreeSchools Room at the Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste. Marie Street, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Make your own printing block based on an original design by Muckpaloo. Open to participants 14+. Space is limited to 25 participants. Stay tuned for registration details.
Muckpaloo Ipeelie is an experienced workshop facilitator, public speaker, and community gatherer who creates welcoming spaces for people of all ages to learn, connect, and participate. Her work brings together film, cultural education, storytelling, art, and hands-on learning in a way that feels authentic, engaging, and meaningful for schools, organizations, libraries, workplaces, and community events. Her goal: bring people together through experience and engagement. For additional information, click the button below.
Exhibits, Memberships & Research
Learn more about museum exhibits, membership opportunities, and archival collections that help preserve and share Collingwood's history.
The Ones We Met
The Collingwood Museum is pleased to present The Ones We Met – Inuit Traditional Knowledge and the Franklin Expedition, a travelling exhibition developed by the Canadian Museum of History and the Inuit Heritage Trust. The exhibition explores how Inuit oral history helped solve one of the Arctic’s greatest mysteries, the fate of Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition, culminating in the discoveries of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror in 2014 and 2016. Through photographs, illustrations, audio recordings, and an animated map, visitors will learn about Inuit encounters with Franklin’s crew, early European exploration of the Arctic, and the enduring importance of traditional knowledge. Presented in the four official languages of Nunavut, the exhibition will be on display at the Collingwood Museum until October 31.
Exhibit Exploration, September 3
Join Muckpaloo Ipeelie and staff for a come and go exhibit exploration on Thursday, September 3, between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Take in the Museum’s newest travelling exhibit, The Ones We Met: Inuit Traditional Knowledge and the Franklin Expedition, and further explore an Inuk perspective with Muckpaloo of the expedition and one of the Arctic’s most lingering mysteries.
Ready, Set, Play: Retro Video Games
Power up and press start! Ready, Set, Play: Retro Video Games takes visitors on a nostalgic journey through the history of home gaming. From classic consoles to iconic games, this summer’s Community Collectors exhibit explores the evolution of video games through the decades. The exhibit will be on display from the end of June through September.
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.
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. To learn more about image reproduction services please contact museum staff.
Collingwood Museum Podcast
The podcast, Stories from Another Day, explores the people, events, and moments that helped shape Collingwood into the community it is today. Join the Collingwood Museum and host Ken Maher as they uncover more than 160 years of local history, from tragedies and triumphs to resilience and transformation.
Check back monthly for new episodes.
Gift Shop
No visit to the Collingwood Museum is complete without exploring the Museum Gift Shop. Browse a selection of books, games, clothing, prints, postcards, souvenirs, and locally inspired gifts.
Visit the Museum to shop available items or contact Museum staff with any questions.
Virtual Tours
Growing Roots: The Legacy of Smart Bros. Ltd. in Collingwood Self-guided Driving Tour
First World War Virtual Walking Tour
