If you're planning to visit the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, we encourage you to view our museum location, hours, admission policy and visitor guides for an enjoyable visit. Be sure to check out the events calendar, the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum and Merritt's Mercantile Gift Shop for a full experience.
Location
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is located at:
1932 Welland Canals Pkwy.
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7K6
Hours of operation
The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
The museum is open late until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays between Victoria Day and Thanksgiving. Check the events calendar for Open Late programming.
Our holiday closures are on Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Ship times for Lock 3
The schedule for ships arriving at Lock 3 is managed by the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway Corporation and is subject to change without notice. Ships are usually added to the schedule no more than 24 hours before they arrive. Locking through takes approximately 20 minutes.
The Welland Canal is closed for annual winter maintenance between the first week of January and mid-March.
Admission to the museum by donation
The St. Catharines Museum is open to the public by donation. Suggested donation is $5. Learn about our pricing for group tours and educational programming if you wish to visit as a larger group.
Admission donations help support the Museum to provide:
- Educational and public programming
- Conservation and preservation of valued and historic artifacts
- Development of in-house exhibits
- Artifacts and archival records that document our own local heritage
- And much more!
Museum visitor guide and map
Download Museum Visitor Guide to get familiar with the Museum before you visit to not miss any of our exhibits.
How to plan a sensory-friendly visit
In addition to downloading the Museum Visitor Guide, we encourage families and individuals with sensory sensitivities to take advantage of quiet spaces we have available to make the museum an enjoyable place for all. Quiet spaces include rest areas throughout the exhibition galleries, the Lockview Lounge, and Rooftop Garden.
You can check our Google Business page Popular Times to see when the Museum might be busy.
How to plan a child-friendly visit
There is so much to do and see for everyone of all ages at the Museum. Plan to visit for a few hours so you and your family have time to visit exhibitions, play in the park and on the playground, see Lock 3 and a ship from the Viewing Platform, while leaving time to take lots of rest and nutrition breaks in between activities.
How to conquer 'Museum Fatigue'
The Museum has many exhibits to see and it can be overwhelming to try to see them all in one, short visit. We suggest walking through the galleries without stopping to get a sense of all there is to see, then going back to visit the exhibition that interests you most.
Group experiences
Guided tours, programs, and other group experiences are available for all ages, groups, and audiences, including school groups, scouting and guiding groups, and adult tour groups.
Host your private event by renting a room at the St. Catharines Museum
We offer spaces to rent at the St. Catharines Museum for meetings, birthday parties, showers, dinners and banquets.
Burgoyne Room
The Burgoyne Room offers the following amenities:
- Located on main floor of the Museum
- Ideal for meetings and small to medium sized events
- Accommodates up to 48 guests for dining or 80 for a theatre style setting
The rental fee for the Burgoyne Room is $34.16 plus tax per hour and any applicable insurance.
Lockview Lounge
The Lockview Lounge offers the following amenities:
- Located on second floor
- Overlooks Lock 3
- Available for limited public rentals
- Ideal for meetings and medium to large events
- Accommodates up to 100 guests for dining and approximately 200 guests with a theatre style set up
The rental fee for the Lockview Lounge is $48.81 plus tax per hour and any applicable insurance. Please note rates may change.
How to book your private event at the Museum
Call or visit during our operating hours and speak with a Hospitality Associate who can walk you through the booking process and show you the rental spaces and amenities. Private bookings are only firm after payment.