Reviews of The Canadian Canoe Museum (Tourist Attraction)

Neil Barker

Excellent displays with a lot to see. I really enjoyed the birchbark canoes on display.

Seth Hannah

Volunteer run, so the people that you interact with are passionate about the history of the area and the details behind everything available to see in the museum! There is a decent part on the history of Aboriginals in our area, but the museum really is about canoes, so don't expect too much more than a bunch of similar looking canoes. It's perfect for kids as there are a bunch of hands on activities, and they even have little events that they host like treasure hunts. Would recommend if you have kids, wouldn't recommend if you don't though.

Andrew Vreugdenhil

Looking forward to the new location but in the meantime great exhibits and classes.

Cheyenne Blaker

The conoe museum has some fantastic exhibits and specimans. It's a really nice quick visit place if you only have half a day! Usually there are no crowds (even during their Thursday free hours).

Kim Macdonald

Very interesting place to visit. The most powerful part of the exhibit for me was the link to the dugout and birch bark canoes, and Inu seal skin kayaks and the extensive and complex trade routes used by First Nations across North America traversed by these vessels. There was one information board that noted how freely First Nations shared this information with Europeans as part of alliance building, and ultimately the irony of this free sharing of information resulting in the devastating negative impact would have on their own communities. Also has a good number of hand on interactive displays for young ones.

Milena Weinberg

There is something for all age groups. Thorough snapshot of Canadian history. Loved the interactive displays for children.

Stephen H

The role the canoe and kayak has played in Canada's history makes this museum well worth the visit.

Doug Bailey

The Canadian Canoe Museum is awesome! Anyone who has a love for canoeing will enjoy this museum. They have a very impressive collection of canoes. My favourites were Bill Mason's, Pierre Trudeau's, Gordon Lightfoot's, The royal family, and The Starkell's canoes! I will be returning for another visit once the museum moves to the new location on the river. The current building looks a little depressing from the outside but once you get inside you realize how amazing this place is. The only complaint I have is that while I was there, the Gordon Lightfoot plaque with the music wasn't working, so I couldn't hear what the song Canary Yellow Canoe sounds like. This song is hard to find because it is not on Youtube or Spotify or anywhere else on the internet and the only way to hear it is by buying the 4 CD box set that costs $55!. Hopefully they get the speakers fixed soon. When we arrived the person at the front desk gave us a great introduction and he was very excited to see us. We also had the whole museum to ourselves as we were the first to arrive all day. Other people did show up throughout the day. I hope you enjoy the museum as much as I did!

Jean de Villiers

Amazing display of canoes. Nice gift shop too. Super friendly people.

Jessica Rocha

Love going to the canoue meuseum, great for kids! They change up some of the displays aswell. We went to the touch a truck event they had which was really nice

Neil Russell

Best canoe museum I’ve been to!

Valerie Russell

Huge selection of canoes! I didn't know the history of them and learned a lot.

Alyscia Sutch

Enjoyed Family Day at the museum. The kids loved it! Staff did a great job. We will be back soon.

Shaun Lindsay (Pop Illuminati)

Had a wonderful time

Karen Hullah

This was a awesome place! Over 100 canoes on display and over 500 in their warehouse!

Paul “Budo Dad” Teleki

This museum is the perfect place to bring family and friends any day of the week! Can't wait to see the growth of this Canadian gem. The staff are wondeful, very warm atmosphere!

B Inthavong

Really enjoyed learning a lot about how many of the canoes were made! Free to those who are residents of Peterborough. Along with free Thursday evenings to everyone after 5pm! Don't miss out

Jessika White

Beautiful museum with so many different classes/courses to learn more about history.

Spire Beats

The Canadian Canoe Museum is a museum dedicated to canoes located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The museum's mission is to preserve and share the culture and history of the canoe. The Canadian Canoe Museum's exhibits explore how the canoe defines the Canadian character and spirit. As well as the canoe collection, the museum features a dramatic waterfall, and a traditional Mi'kmaq wigwam where visitors can hear creation stories. Visitors can also try their hand at building a birch bark canoe in the Preserving Skills Gallery, plan a prospecting expedition like in the gold rush days, feel what it was like to be a voyageur during the fur trade era, and enjoy the cottaging lifestyles of the early 20th century.

Steve Mayes

First time visiting the Canadian Canoe Muesum in Peterborough. I found it very informative and interactive. Lots of items to see and work with. Worth visiting the workshop as well. Any of the staff we talk to were quite helpful. Definitely take the time if you're ever in the area and go to the Muesum. You will not be disappointed! ☺????☝☝

sarah busby

Lovely museum with lots of history. Love the canoes

Mladen T

Really nice museum with friendly staff. Not an expert of canoes but all the material inside the museum was pretty interesting.

Blake McKenzie (N1ceGuy83)

It was more entertaining than I originally thought it would be. Some fun things for the kids to do as well.

David Timan

The canoe has been a dominant fixture of North America far before colonization and Europeans quickly adopted it for trade and travel. The museum tells the story of native canoes, their construction and uses as well as their use by European fur traders. Recreation and racing are captured as well. Not only does the museum have a massive and well displayed collection, it contains a workshop where paddles and canoes and wannigans are built by members of the community. Restoration work and teaching are ongoing in this vibrant museum. I have enjoyed this museum with family and there are many hands on exhibits for children (or the rest of us)

Ashley LeBel

Don't judge this book by its cover. Kind of drab outside but inside opens up to such a well done presentation of its subject and the canoe's contribution to our heritage. Waiting with much anticipation for the new building.

Allan Rory

I am so grateful that this exists. What an opportunity to witness such a variety of Native American handicrafts all in one place. You better believe Canada is a canoe route!!

Elizabeth Clarey

Make sure to make a trip to the current location before they build the new facility. Lot's of hands on activities for the whole family, wheelchair accessible. Really like the free option on Thursday evenings 5pm to 8pm, check the website schedule first. Some Thursday evenings are not available.

Shelly Blank

Very interesting and engaging exhibition. My 10 and 14 year olds also enjoyed all the arts and crafts stations, the puppet show station and all the hands on parts of the exhibition that lets you touch and experience the clothing and materials. Loved the history telling through the aspect of Canoe use in discovering and mapping of Canada. Spent 3 hours there without noticing :)

rachel Carter

There was lots of history and well preserved canoes and kayaks plus learned a lot from the one gentleman named Russ Parker whom taught my husband and I alot about skinned kayaks and canoes. Would return for sure sometime.

Steve

Amazing place. Great displays and the historic canoes and kayaks were fascinating. Just loved the bark canoes

Mark Ryckman

Great little museum focused on an important aspect of our Canadian heritage. Also has gender-neutral washrooms.

joel

Amazing museum! The amount of information to learn is great for the avid learner while it can also be consumed in bite sized chunks if necessary. Highly recommend a stop here if visiting the Peterborough area or Southern Ontario.

Grettel Barcelo

Let’s see, how can I describe my experience on the day that I visited this place. Oh, from what I remember . Fun, really fun. Keep it up guys!

Harry Brigham

Really unique, enjoyable museum. Great place to take the family.

Sarah Foster

Really neat place. I got to sleep over in it and make paddles there in a school trip.

Pam Ingram

I was never a canoer but I love this museum. It depicts the history and development of our country that really brings it to life and makes you realize how great Canada is.

Steve Simpson

This is a wonderful collection of Canoes and artifacts. It is a must see for canoeist.

M Z

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Very nice inside and filled with history. A great place to explore. I don't even canoe and found this place very interesting.

Frank B.

Recently took an OMA course there called 'Planning and Designing Exhibits' back in August. Awesome time with a great bunch of museum staff along with great teachers who taught the course.

DJFUUZE MELANIEMALLOY

Thursday evening was free so it was affordable and educational, it was interesting for everyone.

Sarah Kamerman

My kids loved this place. Great educational experience.

Milton Hill

The Canadian Canoe Museum highlights not only the canoe, but it's importance to the development of Canada itself. A great place for kids and families with hands on activities. Lots of hands on workshops too.

Aung Zaw-Tun

Great museum. Enjoyed the variety of canoes, kayaks, and paddles. The historical facts were very interesting.

Mary

The Canadian Canoe Museum presents how indigenous peoples and their creation of canoes and kayaks allowed this country to be discovered, mapped, goods transported and communities built. The Hudson Bay company giant transport canoes were mind-boggling! The display on recreational canoeing (and sail canoes!) was great. It was and is a way to see this magnificent country from angles it could not otherwise be seen. The differing styles of dugout, birch bark and wooden strip & plank canoes and seal skin kayaks was amazing. I especially appreciated the extensive information on how different indigenous communities shaped them differently to suit the kind of water they were dealing with. It is also the story of the passion and vision of people who collected & preserved this important part of our history. The gift shop is also wonderful and I bought several gifts - and a comfy Canadian-made sweatshirt for myself. The volunteers were extremely helpful & COVID-19 protocols carefully observed. It was a wonderful outing for myself and my niece. She actually got married there a few years ago. I recommend it if you are in Peterborough.

Craig Hamilton

This is a really great educational opportunity for local kids and well worth the travel time to visit for all Canadians!

Emily Higginson

It's a Peterborough gem. The family membership options are totally worth it. Great for kids and canoeing enthusiants alike. They often host special holiday events for families and they have an amazing collection here.

Onur Balyurek

Such a beautiful museum with a peaceful atmosphere and an artistic gift store.

Chris Marshall

very interesting place. we didnt spend much time in Museum itself due to time constraints but we did a mini paddle making class which was great and also visited their canoe building room which was amazing.

Mauricio Rodríguez

Very informative and they have a large collection

Sky Lisette

Love the experience here and the workshops! And the historic canoe tour was wonderful!!!

Vincent Serban (Vicentiu)

Another hidden gem of Ontario, which I admit I found only because of this unusual situation still going on! Leave the purposeless mall trip and get in touch with your primitive inner hunter/fisherman instincts and knowledge. Find out how much you really knew about all the types of canoes, from river canoes to the long and waterproof Bering Sea canoes or the ones from Greenland! Made from one single piece of wood or a wooden frame covered in birch bark or animal skin. Some well preserved few hundred years old pieces. Videos on techniques of the craft, canoeing against the flow near a waterfall and building a canoe. Oh, and I am sure you knew of the large canoes with a mast and one oddly sideways-"V" shaped SAIL, right? (yes, a canoe with a sail...) You didn't?! Then run this weekend with your teenage kids for a quick 2 hours update! After that, weather permitting, take a nice stroll along the river shore on Peterborough marina. And tell me what is across that bridge for pedestrians and trains. Didn't go that far. You're going to love the experience and will not regret the mall. Or so I hope :-)

Vlad Marinkovic

A big and well organized museum with a lot of interpretive signs and friendly staff. You'll learn a lot about this iconic form of transport throughout Canadian history. A nice place to visit with the family and spend an afternoon, especially if the weather outside is bad.

Paul Schortemeyer

If you are interested in the outdoors, you get to see this place! Amazing historical displays.

erika holbrough

Awesome museum, not boring like some would think.

Stephen Phillips

I've been here a few times over the past couple of years with my kids (5 and 2). Very interesting, and really great for kids too. Plenty of 'hands-on' things for little kids, they always have a blast.

Jenn and Rob McArthur

Great variety of exhibits with significant emphasis on indigenous canoes and kayaks and their role in those societies.

albert fuller

I love going here with my 3 yr old grandson; and he especially likes playing in the hands-on areas. I was amazed by an impromptu explanation of kayaks being made with fabric covering in the shop exhibit.

Rebecca Marshall

It's a great place to visit! Thursday evenings are free after 5pm, so nice to go if you want to stroll after dinner or something. You'll definitely want to go back again with more time. If visiting with kids, ask for the scavenger hunt. There's 3 different levels as well, so fun to play that more than once.

Justin Benstead

Beautiful palce . Such a nice piece of history in a well kept building lots of parking . Wheel chair accessible.

shane grimm

Doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside it is amazing. They provided a scavenger hunt for my 9 year old son that kept him busy while I casually browsed the collections.

Draco Sliwaski

Love going there to look around and participate in yoga during Wednesday evenings

Kimik Real Adventures

This is an amazing and very well thought out layout with very well written displays. Many interactive exhibits for everyone to enjoy the museum. Prices very reasonable.

Rich Wigmore

Absolutely incredible exhibits. The parking lots are a bit poor, but a new location is on the way... So we'll let that slide for now.

Jonathan Ng

Can go through who museum in 1 hour, can't wait to see it in 2022 when new building open.

gilly crossley

Fascinating. Really enjoyed our visit and great shop too. It will be wonderful in its eventual new location by the Liftlock!

Michelle Rakowski

Wow! This place was so much more than I expected. Beautifully presented, educational and interesting. I took my kids here and they loved it too! Lots of interactive experiences available and plenty of history.

Anaswara NV

Good museum with lots of different canoe. A different one than usual museum.

Rick Gray

This is an amazing place to visit, well laid out, great gift/book shop, and very friendly, helpful staff. All you ever wanted to know about canoes and more.

Alana Fearnall

The amount of reading here is too much. It's like reading a book. An unedited, poorly written, book. Canoes were neat to look at, though.

Sebastian Kluth

Canadian Canoe Museum offers plenty of information on canoes on two levels with lots of things to see, touch and watch. The museum also encourages and honors local artists. The gift shop offers a great selection of memorabilia and gifts. Service is friendly and helpful. I only though that the entrance fee of twelve dollars was slightly elevated. The museum is probably going to move to a different part in town within the next two years.

Michelle Brown

Amazing museum full of great Canadian history ????

Ewa Romanowicz

Enjoyed the visit. There are many canoes on display and lots of history to see and read.

Butch Marshall

Really great if you are passionate about canoes. Something to do if you're indifferent. Ticket prices are a little high.

Libin Philip

Never really knew that canoes had such a huge contribution to what we are today! Must visit this museum at least once. It's so informative, will definitely widen your perspective. The whole place is beautifully maintained with staff who have a very good knowledge on the subject. Each & every object has detailed information and explains the historical impact & importance. Being an immigrant myself, this place helped me gain so much knowledge about Canadian history. Definitely worth the time for people all ages. Their is also a memoir shop inside with things such as miniature canoes, books & magazines, collectables, t-shirts and so on. Price for an adult is $14 but you can avail a discount if you're a student. My friends definitely did. We paid $28 for the three of us. Totally worth it!

hinata loving (soul)

They have the largest collection of canoes. The displays change regularly so you are able to learn new things. Wonderful staff. So many different classes and events going on.

Malancha Maiti

It shows history of Canoe.

Sarah

Must seen at Peterborough. A great collection of canoe to understand Canadian history and culture. Staffs and tour guided (George) are super nice!

StarGehzer

Lots of REALLY old canoes & kayaks. Lots of birch bark & dugouts. Almost nothing from the last 50 years. I'm not sure what I expected, it really is a museum, look, don't touch anything. The lighting was quite dim, apparently bright light is bad for the antiques. Most items had an information card, but I wished there was more info on it, for example, the weight of each boat. The kayaks info should have indicated what they were made from. The voyageurs canoes were Huge! Glad I didn't have to carry them!

Neil Rothwell

Great place for the whole family. Lots of fabulous displays and don't forget to visit the paddle making room.

Thomas Barnett

Fascinating history of the canoe and lots of hands-on activities for the kids. A must see.

Aiden Perrin

After thinking it was a 3 star experience I've changed my mind. Canadian canoe museum is the goto place for learning about this type of thing

Mitch Kahan

In essence, this museum is a collection of canoes which can be traced back to various points of Canadian and indigenous history. It is very informative and is kid friendly with various hand on activities.

John Hanna

If you've ever glided across a lake in a canoe, go, let your imagination cast yourself into some of the craft in their collection.

myz jed

Worth the price of admission. Very interesting history.

Lucia Rostirolla

Attended the Canoe Museum for a workshop. An interesting place with a lot of displays and a gift shop.

Catherine Dove

Canadian Canoe Museum takes an undervalued object -- the canoe -- and shows how instrumental it was to Canadian history. All nuances and variation of the canoe are weigh in on, and the museum in packed with artifacts displayed to maximize engagement through a variety of learning styles. One walks away from the museum well satisfied and much more appreciative of the manifold beauty of this sleek water craft

Andre Zhang

Awesome, passionate staff. The exhibits are extremely interesting. The boat tour in the canoe along the Trent Severn Waterway they do through the lift lock is very cool. A must go in Peterborough!

Amanda Cox

Lots of history, great place to visit on a weekend afternoon ????

captain hyderabad

One of the best places to visit in Peterborough I just enjoyed each and every minute of being there really educational places for people of all the ages will go there anytime would love to see the place expand to thrice the size and include more different styles of canoes they already have a large collection of paddles

Justin East

We learned a lot about some of the traditions and history of Canada and saw some awesome canoes.

Gord Ferguson

Great venue and friendly staff. Kids and adults will find this both historical and educating.

douglas bisset

You need a least 3 hours to tour through. The history is amazing. Alot of reading and knowledge to absorb. If you like Canadian history a must stop. $12 is reasonable fee.

Giovanni Di Marco

Fantastic exhibits on the history of paddle based watercraft, lots of interesting clinics and workshops, and a great gift shop.

Steve McCullough

An engaging, thorough, and informative place. Does a great job addressing the canoe as an artifact and as a cornerstone of Indigenous and settler culture in the context of colonial history. If you like canoes and canoeing at all, you'll find the museum fascinating.

Tim Robinson

If you love canoes, you'll love this place. Appropriately, only token consideration of kayaks. :)

Amanda

Cute little museum to go to. I've been on two school trips here several years apart and the museum still has lots of charm, the staff is friendly as well.

Emily Galloway

Very interesting and unique museum with a strong focus on Indigenous Canadian history and early Canadian history. Exhibits were very informative and there was lots to do for kids/interactive exhibits and crafts. Staff were very friendly and there is a gift shop.

John Chartrand

A must-stop for any canoe/kayak and history buff!! The gift shop is also filled with well-thought , relevant items.

Kelton Jeffery

Pretty cool little place, great place to take your kids to teach them about a very interesting culture and way of life

Gloria Dunford

Really great place to spend the day. Very informative staff. Wonderful displays.

Aine Ganly

Lots if hands on activities! Really well put together. They have packed a lot into a smaller space. The volunteers are great, very knowledgeable and friendly.

Claire Archambault

Very enjoyable and accessible even when having only a couple of hours to visit the museum.

Bobby Chapman

A gorgeous and educational collection.

Paul Neumayer

Such a great place! Something for everyone. Appeals to ages 2 to 102!

Robin Lycette

Great place to explore and learn. Fascinating collection!!!!

Barbara Findlay

Great history of canoes and the builders. So much Canadian history is because of a canoe.

Frank Wice

This is a place that everyone with any interest in canoes or history must see. It's incredible

Michael Lalonde

This a great location that truly captures the history of the canoe and what it has meant to the entire country from sea to sea to sea.

Carmen Yeo

Very friendly staff. Really cool place to visit. Terry makes amazing paddles. Very knowledgeable. A must see.

Karen Anderson

I really enjoy visiting. This was my third time here and I would go again when I'm in Peterborough

James Purtill

Great displays, they have a new museum getting built which looks amazing. Got to see their storage, and there's so much more which is why they are buildinģ a new place.

Andrew Strutton

Surprisingly even without my medical marijuana I quite enjoyed this museum although I did get confused by the gender neutral toilets and wasn't sure which one I should use.

Amy G

So glad we decided to visit the canoe museum. Definitely exceeded our expectations.

Olga S.

Amazing museum, very friendly staff, great souvenirs in their gift shop, very reasonable prices ! Kids loved it too.

Wanna go For a rip bud

They need to advertise better this place is actually pretty cool always sounds so boring marketing 101

Peter Brackenbury

The Canadian Canoe Museum is a gem that should not be hidden! I take my class there twice a year. Staff are always incredible and the programs and experiential learning opportunities blow away other programs I have taken on field trips. Go on the sleepover and carve a paddle! Paddle in a Voyageur canoe. Team build a kayak model. Every activity is great!

Bradley Stewart

Great place to learn a bought the history on canoes. They also have interactive participation.

Diane Northey

Tour is great. Obstructed areas to see speakers at the event. The beef was tuff. The rest of the meal was good.

Sharon North

Attended a wedding here. Fantastic

L A

They let a drug using homeless guy sleep there, he harasses us all of the time! He makes my friends and I feel uncomfortable so much so we refuse to go near there. We Tell anyone we can!

Cavin Crasto

Great place to learn about Canoes and how they were built.

Jenny Dolan

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. Very knowledgeable staff. A great collection of artifacts.

randy kincaide

Awesome history presented. Learned a great deal about canoes and the exploits of the early settlers and trappers Recommend for everyone to go and spend an afternoon.

Nikki Partridge

Had lots of fun! Purchased the yearly membership!!

Shannon Williams

A lot of information, expect to be there for around 2 hours to have enough time to see everything. The staff is amazing and knowledgeable!

Jacob N.

The collection is amazing. The canoes and kayaks are so beautiful ! One can easily spend the whole day admiring the birch bark canoes, learning about canoe making in Canada and watching educational videos. It is definitely worth the drive from Toronto !

Harry Sully

Pretty cool place. Large, modern with lots of artifacts. Be sure to have several hours to spend here if you visit.

Rob&Janique McDougall

Great collection of canoes andkayaks. Lots of kids activities

Sazzad Mahmud

Amazing work of preserving an important part of Canada. Find a copy of almost every type of canoe that has been in practice and evolved. Great place to take our new Canadians or babies.

linden grey

Interesting lens though which to view Canadian history. Loved the active workshops where canoe building is still taking place.

George The Corgi

Very interesting things to explore. There for a wedding catered food was average

Cathy Rombough

I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Great displays and the variety of canoes was surprising. Much research done obviously.

john hunt

Awesome museum. Loaded with hundreds of canoes and very informative.

Omar Rashid

Wanted to visit this place for sometime and not disappointed after the visit. Very impressed with the history.

YannikR9

The fact that this museum was only about canoes and nothing else made it a kind of boring and after a while you have the feeling of already having seen everything already. On the other hand it's an awesome service to get in for free on thursdays and the souvenir shop has many things to offer! I think I actually spent more time in there than in the museum itself.

Matt H

Awesome exhibits telling the history of Canada thorough canoes. Tons of interactive exhibits as well. Staff were incredibly kind, helpful, and friendly. The gift shop is stocked with tons of cool souvenirs for different tastes and budgets, definitely worth a visit.

Shawnie S

The museum is much more than you expect. Definitely worth stopping by!

Phil Reid

Love the display of old canoes cant wait till the new location is ready always fun for the kids. And free on Thursdays in the summer.

Kevin James

I love dimensions of Canadian history that are communicated in captivating style. This place exudes fascinating information, water craft fundamental to our country's development, interactive learning stations, opportunities for hands-on creative learning experiences for all ages, and a shop full of beautiful items for sale. I just bought a gift for a family member here. A perfect place to enjoy with family and friends!

Nancy Parks

Great place to check out! Wish it was staying where it is. There it is easily accessible for everyone. Where they plan to move it won't be.

Norman de Bellefeuille

Outstanding. A history of Canada through it's early water crafts.

Bella M

I wasnt sure what was inside upon seeing the building but we were pleasantly surprised! And once you head to the second floor its pretty awesome!!!

robert mosurinjohn

The present Canadian Canoe Museum is very nice. Spending tens of millions of dollars on a new building in a new location is insanity in this day and age of Covid and social ills like epidemic of teen suicides. Canoeists are a dying breed .. we're the baby boom generation and won't be around in 10 years. Young people don't canoe, they jet ski and sup and aren't interested in canoeing. Money spent on a new building is a complete waste.

Brian Fawcett

Kids loved the touch-a-truck event they hosted and enjoyed walking around the museum. Lots of interesting displays, would have been good to spend some more time to see everything! Staff were helpful too and had fun stations set up for the kids on this event day

Paras Bhargava

Great museum!

Mary Jane McLeod

An amazing learning museum with hands on activites along with informative guided tours or if you are an independant explorer you can travel through Canadas waterway history and the valueable tools canoes were and still are to our great land we call home.

brian echlin

Great Candian History.

Trevor Smith

How can you not love a showcase of the craft that made this country before there was even a Country. It celebrates the skill and art of building canoes and kayaks from the simplest dugout through to engineered racing 'yaks. It reflects the way craft design and construction are a product of the environment. The medium is the message.

Roman

Great museum! Remarkable what one person’s passion could do.