History is alive in Northumberland County. Seek out some memorable landmarks, famous historic figures or early transportation routes. They connect all of us in many ways.
Explore the History of Northumberland
A Sense of Place
Find out about our place in our history. It’s the towns, villages and water that connect us. Today, we have movies, TV shows and commercials seeking out our unique character.
Historical Plaques
Stop to see the sites and read the stories on some of the 23 historical plaques in Northumberland County. These blue-and-gold plaques were erected by the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Toonie Monument
Take a photo in front of Canada's giant toonie, a monument commemorating the $2 coin designed by a Campbellford artist in 1996.
Church-Key Brewing
Take a tour to see how Church-Key Brewing turned a little country church near Campbellford into an artisan brewery.
Trent-Severn Waterway
Stop near Hastings to visit locks 11 or 12 of the Trent-Severn Waterway, part of one of Canada's most-celebrated heritage waterways.
Percy Portage
Drive along portions of the Percy Portage, which Samuel de Champlain took in 1615 to avoid the rapids of the Trent River in Hastings and Campbellford.
Roseneath Carousel
Take a whirl on the Roseneath Carousel, one of the last operating merry-go-rounds in North America. It's beautifully restored, and open on select weekends for everyone to enjoy.
Gore's Landing
Take a break at Gore's Landing, a peaceful meeting point. It also has a rich past. Paleo-Indian spear points were found here dating back 11,500 years.
Susanna Moodie
Find out about Susanna Moodie in Hamilton Township. Learn more about the homesteading challenges of Canada's beloved pioneer author.
Catharine Parr Traill - Mount Ararat
Continue on in Hamilton Township to see a site associated with Moodie's sister Catharine Parr Traill, who chronicled the botany of Rice Lake.
Port Hope Drive-In Theatre
Entertain your family or friends watching movies from your car at the historic Port Hope Drive-In. Check out the summer hours of operation.
Looking for even more history? Check out these Northumberland County gems.
Ganaraska Trail |
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Follow the route of the historic Midland Railway. Just take the portion of the Ganaraska Trail near Port Hope's town hall. |
Rice Lake Rail Crossing |
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It was a real engineering feat in 1860, but the railway trestle across Rice Lake failed in its first year and was never used again. Remnants of the route are still visible from the shore at Harwood. |
James Cockburn |
| One of the most influential political figures in Cobourg, James Cockburn was one of the Fathers of Confederation who created Canada as we know it today. |
Murray Canal |
| The Murray Canal took years of political wrangling, but this short cut through the very eastern edge of Northumberland was finally finished in 1889 so that ships could avoid the worst of the treacherous waters at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. |
J.D. Kelly |
| The most famous artist to grow up in Warkworth, J.D. Kelly's renderings of pivotal moments in Ontario history still have resonance today. |
Wreck of the Speedy |
| Plans to make Presqu'ile a regional capital were scuttled when a ship carrying court officials and politicians sank just offshore in 1804, now known as the Wreck of the Speedy. |
Danforth Road |
| This road, still in use, was conceived as a military road, far enough from Lake Ontario to be secure from American attack. Yes, it's the same Danforth as in Toronto. |
William Weller |
| William Weller was a colourful character who ran the stagecoach line from Hamilton to Montreal in the pre-railway era. Gained renown for driving the governor-general from Toronto to Montreal in a record 37 hours. |
Alderville First Nation |
| When this Ojibway band adopted an agrarian way of life, they found their island in the Bay of Quinte unsuited to agriculture. The current reserve, known as Alderville First Nation, provided much better opportunities. |
Gerald Hayward |
| An artist who gained fame for miniature portraits of royalty and other famous people. Always held a soft spot for Gore's Landing and built the house that was Victoria Inn, now a private residence. Read more in this "Gore's Landing: Shadows of the Pioneers" blog. |
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