Brant Museum & Archives
Located in downtown Brantford, the Brant Museum & Archives is dedicated to bringing the history of our community to life through interactive exhibits and engaging programs.
Operated by the Brant Historical Society, the museum hosts several permanent and short-term exhibits throughout the year, as well as a multitude of special events including educational programs, lectures, and guided tours. In order to bring creative and educational programming to the community, the Brant Museum & Archives also partners with other organizations on events.
While Brantford has had a museum since the 1890s, the history of this first museum is quite limited. We do know that it was originally located on the corner of George St. and Dalhousie St. in Brantford, and later moved to the basement of the Carnegie Public Library in 1905. However, when the Library no longer had room for the artifacts, the museum was closed. This became the impetus for the formation of the Brant Historical Society.
The BHS began acquiring artifacts in 1910 and in 1915 the Society established a museum in the basement of the new Carnegie library. In 1951, the BHS purchased 57 Charlotte Street and opened The Brant Historical Society Museum and Cultural Centre in June 1952. The name of the museum changed slightly over time and in the mid-1990s was finally changed to the Brant Museum & Archives.
With over a century in artifact collection and historical programming experience, the Brant Museum & Archives is the best place to experience the history of Brantford and Brant County.
Myrtleville House Museum
Built in 1837-8 for Allen and Eliza Good, the handsome Georgian farmhouse sits atop a picturesque knoll on a five-acre wooded lot. The farmstead also includes several small outbuildings and silos that recall its rich agricultural history. One of the most renowned members of the family is Tom and Mary’s only son William, who was one of the founders of the United Farmers’ Cooperative of Ontario in 1914. It was William’s children who led the restoration of Myrtleville House in the 1960s – a project which involved the entire family.
Recognizing the importance of the property to the local community, Myrtleville House, its contents and immediate grounds were deeded to the National Trust for Canada in 1978. Since 2008, the Brant Historical Society has offered interpretive tours, special events, family and school programs, and a summer camp at Myrtleville House.
