Museums

Kingston is Canada’s museum capital. We have something for everyone with 24 museums and historic sites and three art galleries. This includes City-owned museums like PumpHouse and MacLachlan Woodworking Museum, along with Kingston City Hall National Historic Site.

The Kingston and Area Association of Museums, Galleries and Historic Sites is a not-for-profit group that supports our cultural heritage sector. Visit their website to learn about museums to explore in Kingston.

PumpHouse

The PumpHouse is in one of Canada's oldest waterworks, powered by steam pumps that brought running water to Kingston in 1850. We are one of only six preserved water pumping plants in North America.

In addition to seeing the massive steam pumps, visitors can enjoy rotating exhibitions in our main gallery room, our permanent collection of model train layouts and our kid-focused Discovery Centre with hands-on activities for young children.

Open from Tuesday to Saturday for museum tours at 23 Ontario St.
Book your tour online or call 613-544-7867.

MacLachlan Woodworking Museum

The museum is closed for drop-in exhibit viewing but is open for workshops and other programming.

While MacLachlan Woodworking Museum isn't open for drop-in visits, we encourage you to join our hands-on woodworking workshops and seasonal programs.

Civic artifact collection

We include public art in our plans for new buildings, parks and infrastructure. This art has become a part of our Civic Collection. Explore the permanent public art in our City and learn more about the City of Kingston's civic artifact collection.

What is our civic collection?

We safeguard a diverse collection of historical artifacts, artworks and public monuments at various municipal sites including City Hall, MacLachlan Woodworking Museum, PumpHouse Museum and City-owned parks.

Known as our civic collection, it features treasures such as Engine 1095 (The Spirit of Sir John A) in Confederation Park, portraits of Kingston mayors and officials at City Hall, Victorian-era Osborne-Killey and Inglis steam-powered water-pumping engines at the PumpHouse Museum, the Time sculpture by artist Kosso Eloul in Breakwater Park and Canada's most extensive collection of traditional woodworking hand tools at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum. These objects and artworks are tangible links to our community's history and culture.

City Hall tours

Explore Kingston City Hall, built in the 1840s when Kingston was Canada's first capital.

City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
Fax: 613-546-7816

The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.

Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.

Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives .