Explore the culinary history of Freedom Seekers in St. Catharines, focusing on the significance of sweet potatoes in their diet.
Artifact of the Week: Bottle of J.D. Neelon Wine
This week’s artifact is a bottle of Pure Native Wine that was bottled and sold by J. D. Neelon of […]
Museum Chat Live! Season 10 BONUS EPISODE: A Museum Panel Discussion on Spirit Walks
Just when you thought Museum Chat Live! was done for the year, we decided to send one more special episode […]
Artifact of the Week: Merritton Centennial Glass
This week’s artifact is a glass mug commemorating the Centennial of Merritton’s incorporation as a village in 1874. 1975.9.2A Find […]
People of the Parks Part 4: The Southeast
Click HERE for Part 1, HERE for Part 2, and HERE for Part 3 Welcome to our People of the Parks […]
Museum Chat Live! E1009 – A Niagara Christmas Carol: Fostering Community Connections Through History and Theatre
This podcast episode includes an interview with Foster Festival playwright and actor Jamie Williams and director Emily Oriold. Representing the […]
People of the Parks Part 3: The Southwest
Click HERE for Part 1 and HERE for Part 2 Welcome to our People of the Parks blog series. This four-part […]
People of the Parks Part 2: The Northeast
Click HERE for Part 1 Welcome to our People of the Parks blog series. This four-part series is a companion to […]
Artifact of the Week: CSSRA Regatta Badge
This week’s artifact is a badge from the 1973 Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Regatta. This event, also known as […]
People of the Parks Part 1: The Northwest
Welcome to our People of the Parks blog series. This four-part series is a companion to “You are Here,” our temporary exhibit […]
Artifact of the Week: UAW Local 199 Ribbon
This week’s artifact is a ribbon from U.A.W. 199 in St. Catharines. This is the General Motors union, which now […]
History from Here: Barbican Heights Park
In the centuries before major European presence in this area, the primary residents of the Niagara Peninsula were the Neutrals. […]
Museum Chat Live! E1007 – Hearing History: Lakeside Park Carousel Band Organ
This podcast episode is in our Hearing History series, exploring local history through sound. Today’s sound comes from a musical […]
14th Annual Guided Spirit Walks – Director’s Notes
Now in its 14th year, the annual Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery are an excellent way to experience historical narrative lifted off the written page. It’s traditional (and sometimes required) for the writer/director to offer thoughts and perspective on the intentions and research behind the stories of the annual production.
Artifact of the Week: Lunchbox
This week’s artifact is a metal lunchbox. which is similar to the ones used locally between the 1900s and 1940s. […]
Artifact of the Week: Figural Perfume Bottle
This week’s artifact is a figural perfume bottle donated by Associated Charities and is a part of the St. Catharines […]
Artifact of the Week: Fireman’s Smoke Mask
This week’s artifact is a respirator that was used and donated by the St. Catharines Fire Department. 1967.174.93 Find more […]
Artifact of the Week: Girl Guide Cookies Box
This week’s artifact is a box of Girl Guide cookies celebrating the 75 anniversary of The Girl Guides of Canada. […]
Artifact of the Week: Decorative Ceramic Iron
This week’s artifact is a ceramic iron that was likely used as a decorative storage container. The item is undated […]
Artifact of the Week: Doultons Improved Foot Warmer
This week’s artifact is an early 20th-century stoneware foot warmer. This item was made in London and sold through the […]
History from Here: St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church at 49 Carlton St.
The area around Ontario and Carlton Streets is probably most remembered for McKinnon Industries and St. Catharines’ first General Motors […]
Artifact of the Week: Soap and Tray
This week’s artifact is a late 19th to early 20th century soap dish including a partial bar of soap. At […]
Artifact of the Week: White Dress
This week’s artifact is a dress worn by Helen Stanley Smith when she was a young girl around 1914. Also […]
Artifact of the Week: Wedding Slippers
This week’s artifact is a pair of wedding slippers worn by Elizabeth Campbell (neé Oille) at her wedding on September […]
History from Here: Former Merritton Town Hall
Before 1961, Merritton was an independent municipality, separate from St. Catharines. Merritton developed around the Welland Canal’s most aggressive escarpment […]
Artifact of the Week: Pink Ostrich Feather Fan
This week’s artifact is a c.1920-1940 pink ostrich feather fan that was owned by Margaret Elizabeth Bate of St. Catharines. […]
Museum Chat Live! E1002 – Hearing History: Film Projectors
This podcast episode is in our Hearing History series, exploring local history through sound. Today’s sound is the film projector, which has […]
Hiding in Plain Sight Part 4: Hiding Our History
In part four of our annual Black History Month blog series we explore the persistence of myths and their contribution to our national identity.
Museum Chat Live! E1001 – What’s Coming Up in Season 10?
The 10th season of our Museum Chat Live! podcast is here! My, oh my, how time flies. It’s like one […]
Artifact of the Week: Skating Club Cardigan
This week’s artifact is a cardigan from the Linwell Skating Club, c.1950s. The cardigan was owned by Tom Fraser, President […]
Hiding in Plain Sight Part 2: Extradition
In part two of our annual Black History Month blog series, we explore the history of extradition in Upper Canada/Canada West and the legal protections afforded to Freedom Seekers once they “crossed that line.”
Artifact of the Week: Regatta Badge
This week’s artifact is a badge promoting the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Regatta (also know as “School boy”) held […]
Artifact of the Week: Plough Plane
This week’s artifact is a wooden wedge-stem plough plane with screw stop used locally in St. Catharines between the years of […]
VMLS via Podcast – Unearthing Niagara’s Industrial History
On today’s episode we’re sharing to provide a lecture presented on December 13, 2022 which provided an update on her work at the Shickluna Shipyard archaeological dig.
Artifact of the Week: Softball Badge
This badge denotes participation in the 1971 East End Girls Softball league in St. Catharines. 2011.20.26 Find more information and […]
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 3: The Dumping Ground
In part three of our blog series about the old canals, we look at how and why the old canals have been abandoned and slowly erased from the landscape.
VMLS via Podcast – Ponderous Fraus, Mynheers, and Jaded Farm Horses
On today’s episode we’re sharing “Ponderous Fraus, Mynheers, and Jaded Farm Horses, or Early St. Catharines Before the First Welland Canal” with special guest Brian Narhi.
Artifact of the Week: Commemorative Coin
This week’s artifact is a coin commemorating the Third World Rowing Championships held in St.Catharines in 1970. It was issued […]
History from Here: Yale & Towne Lock Factory
The early Welland Canals had helped set St. Catharines up as a manufacturing powerhouse in the mid 1800s. But by […]
VMLS via Podcast – In the Public Interest
On today’s episode we’re sharing “In the Public Interest: Public Works in St. Catharines” presented by Kathleen Powell.