The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is inviting residents and visitors to step inside, explore local history and discover a building that offers much more than traditional displays.
The historic house was built between 1861 and 1863. Today, its rooms tell stories about Victorian life, local families, major industries and the changing community.
Program Coordinator Sienna Cauley says the museum works to keep its exhibits fresh for returning visitors.
The museum’s main floor is arranged like a Victorian home. Visitors can explore summer and winter kitchens, a dining room, parlour and study.
Many of the objects were made in Smiths Falls or belonged to families from the surrounding area. The collection includes a working 1917 Victrola and a piano guests are encouraged to try.
Museum Assistant Aidan Tucker-Cormier says visitors do not have to simply observe from behind a rope.
Guests can choose between guided and self-guided tours. They can move a butter churn, ring a service bell and examine objects that show how people lived and worked in earlier generations.
Hands-on activities are also offered in several rooms.
Upstairs exhibits highlight industries and organizations that helped shape Smiths Falls. Familiar names and objects connect the community’s past to memories still shared by many local families.
Cauley says one room includes several recognizable pieces of local history.
Other displays explore the Rideau Canal, local artwork and the families who once lived in the house. Exhibits rotate regularly, giving people new reasons to return.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteer opportunities are also available for people interested in exhibits, programming or the museum grounds.
