The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre features four permanent exhibits, allowing you to explore the critically important early days of St. Catharines in interesting and interactive ways!
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
The Canals Gallery
Learn about the Welland Ship Canal; its history and construction to its current-day operation as the 'vital link' of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway. Located in the Lobby. Allow 30 minutes.
A Town Growing Into Note
Our new permanent introduction gallery focuses on the key elements of what makes St. Catharines and introduces you to the people who walked this land and shaped into the place it is now. Located in the exhibition galleries. Allow 30 minutes.
The Historic Welland Canals, W.H. Merritt Exhibition Gallery
Opened in April 2023 the new, permanent exhibition featuring the rich history of the Welland Canals and their influence in St. Catharines has something for everyone. Canal enthusiasts can dig into the history with a large selection of artifacts, engineering drawings, and stories of the people who built the canal. Children and their families can engage with interactive displays that make learning about the canal fun. From the display of model ships to the new virtual canal map, plan to spend 60 minutes and a few return visits.
Building a City, Isabella Frampton Hawken Exhibition Gallery
Coming soon. Opening in November, 2023 a new exhibition sharing the stories of the people who worked and built our city will excite visitors about our local history.
Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum
Explore the rich history of North America's oldest team sport inside the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum. The 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.
History InSite Installation
Our History Insite installation is a permanent photographic gallery with interpretive signage found throughout downtown St. Catharines, Port Dalhousie, and Merritton. The exhibit features photographs taken of streetscapes many decades ago and presents them in or close by the place where the photo was taken.
This juxtaposition of eras helps viewers understand how the streetscapes have changed over time and how the city itself has changed through a meaningful, poignant and relevant look back in time from the lens of our modern eyes.
Map and Information to the Installation