One of our permanent galleries, Brant Square is a recreation of several historical storefronts. The storefronts include:
- Robertson's Drug Store
- Lester's Candy Store
- Hawthorne's Sporting Goods
- Hardware Store
- Music store
- Cockshutt's General Store
The storefronts were built in the late 1970's, opening to the public in 1977.
Another of our permanent galleries, Brants Corner continues the storefront theme, showing:
- Eye Glass Display
- Pearce's Barbershop
- A Pottery Shop, featuring pottery from both the Brantford Stoneware Manufacturing Co. and Ahrens Pottery from Paris, ON
- A General Store
- Hurley Printing
The storefronts were built in the late 1970's, opening to the public in 1977.
The final space of our permanent displays, the pioneer kitchen showcases various household and outdoor tools that the early settlers to this area would have used (wool carding brushes, yarn spinners, yokes for carrying buckets, butter moulding paddles, cast iron cookware, etc.)
This area was one of the earliest displays installed at our Charlotte Street location, and will be de-installed in the summer of 2026 to create an additional rotating gallery space. Stay tuned to our social media for more details.
Located in our Research Library, the Brant Historical Society’s Wall of Honour aims to recognize and remember members of the community that have made a significant impact to life in Brantford, Brant County and/or Six Nations.
The Wall of Honour currently includes:
- CAPTAIN JOSEPH BRANT (Thayendanegea) (1742- 1807)
- THOMAS CHARLES LONGBOAT (Gagwe:gih) (1886-1949)
- EMILY PAULINE JOHNSON (Tekahionwake) (1861-1913)
- ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL (1847-1922)
- CHARLES JOSEPH SYLVANNUS (SYL) APPS (1915-1998)
- HIRAM “KING” CAPRON (1796-1872)
- JAMES G. COCKSHUTT (1853-1885)
- THOMAS BERTRAM COSTAIN (1885-1965)
- SARA JEANETTE DUNCAN (1861-1922)
- WILLIAM CHARLES GOOD (1876-1967)
- ARTHUR STURGIS HARDY (1837-1901)
- LAWREN HARRIS (1885-1970)
- DR. JAMES HILLIER (1915 – 2007)
- ADELAIDE HUNTER HOODLESS (1858-1910)
- WILLIAM ROSS MACDONALD (1891-1976)
- HARRY C. NIXON (1891-1961)
- JAY SILVERHEELS (1912-1980)
- SAMUEL STEDMAN (1881-1965)
- DAVID GLENN KILMER (1914-2002)
- JOHN H. STRATFORD (1840-1888)
- HON. GEORGE BOWN (1818 – 1880)
Interested in nominating someone for the Wall of Honour? The nomination form can be found here. If you have any questions, email information@brantmuseums.ca.
Located in the room across from the Pioneer Kitchen is one of our temporary gallery spaces. Currently, we have an exhibit on Brantford's Theatres and Opera Houses on display. This exhibit opened in the fall of 2025 and will be on display until August 2026. A new exhibit will open in this space October 2026.
As part of one of our ongoing partnerships, the Memories of Brantford's Immigrant Communities Committee has worked since 2019 to create a series of exhibits on different immigrant groups and their history in Brantford. Prior exhibits have featured the Jewish, Italian, Chinese, Ukrainian, and Armenian communities in Brantford.
The current exhibit is titled "Roots and Routes: Black Brantford, Freedom Seekers, Community Builders", which shares the history of the Black community in Brantford. The exhibit spreads across the two main galleries on the main floor and will be open from October 2025 to August 2026.
Located upstairs, come in and learn about the Brant Men of Song and their 65 years of musical contributions to Brantford and beyond!
On display from March 2, 2026 to May 30, 2026