The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre offers a wide variety of local history exhibitions on topics including the Underground Railroad, the Welland Canals, women's history, the manufacturing industry, and much more.
Exhibition Disruptions:
A new interpretive plan, introduced in May 2019, is guiding the phased redevelopment of the permanent galleries, public spaces, and outdoor interpretive areas over the next few years. Currently in phase three, work continues on our permanent galleries and some disruptions may continue until work is complete.
To request a digital PDF copy of the interpretive plan, please contact us via email
Exhibit Disruption: Due to our ongoing HVAC replacement program, Last Stop: In Their Own Words exhibition will be closed September 20 through October 2.
Our exhibition program showcases artifacts, photographs, archives from the museum's collection in an engaging way driven by stories about the people of St. Catharines.
Permanent exhibits
Our permanent exhibits feature stories of the Welland Canals and the Underground Railroad with special attention to the stories of the immigrant labour and Freedom Seeker refugees arriving to St. Catharines in the 1850s.
Temporary exhibits
Temporary exhibits allow us to showcase more of the museum's large collection of nearly 800,000 records. These displays rotate annually, so discover the current temporary exhibits available now before they disappear!
Virtual exhibits
Check out our current virtual exhibits, which you can view online from the comfort of your own home!
History InSite
A permanent, site-specific installation, History InSite juxtaposes historical photographs with modern streetscapes by presenting the photo in, or close to, the place which it was taken. This installation is located Downtown St. Catharines with additional installations planned for Port Dalhousie, Merritton, and other neighbourhoods.
Find out more and visit the installation.
Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum
The Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum recognizes and celebrates the great game of Lacrosse, through historical, cultural, and athletic contributions to the sport; celebrating past, and present achievements in Canada’s national sport, across the province. The Hall of Fame and Museum are managed and curated separately from the St. Catharines Museum.
Learn more about the oldest North American team sport with a visit, located in the St. Catharines Museum exhibition galleries.