Arnprior and District Museum

Arnprior and its surrounding area were first settled by First Nation’s People along the shore of the Ottawa. At the end of the 18th century European settlers from Scotland, England and Ireland along with veterans of the War of 1812 began to deforest and subsequently farm and log the area.

The collection of the Museum, housed in a designated Thomas Fuller Post Office c 1896, reflects those times and includes exhibits about the Scottish Laird, Archibald McNab, who brought a group of settlers to populate the area, the 1860 visit of the Prince of Wales and the Limbering Kings of the Ottawa River, Alexander McDonell, Daniel McLachlin and the Gillies Brothers. The Museum is also proud to have an exhibit devoted to the life and work of Charles Macnamara, a local and internationally renowned field naturalist and photographer.

Along with a comprehensive collection of lumbering artefacts exhibited in a purpose built lumber room, the museum also houses 19th century farming implements, 19th century photographs from local photographic studios, period clothing and textiles along with a military exhibit honouring the involvement of Arnprior men and women in the two World Wars. Also on display it an extensive interactive exhibit of Kenwood Mills, a c 1923 International Fire Truck, a dental office from the 1920’s and a General Store.

The Arnprior and District Museum was opened as part of the Town of Arnprior’s Centennial Project in 1967 and owned and run by the Town of Arnprior and is generously supported by the Ontario Government’s Community Museum Operating Grant, Ontario Power Generation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

During the off season 2008 – 2009 the Museum underwent extensive renovations to the basement and third floor allowing the basement to be used for storage of artefacts and the third floor ultimately creating a new area for the storage of artefacts and much needed exhibit space on the third floor. The turret area is open to the public and a large meeting room/classroom facility is available.