Spadina Historic House Museum

Spadina Museum is a 55 room Toronto mansion restored to the interwar era (1918-1939). In this period Toronto experienced increased immigration, the Great Depression, and eleven years of prohibition. Women gained the right to vote, and other major social reforms swept the city.  Owned for four generations by the Austins, a prominent family of business people and arts patrons, Spadina is now a museum and celebrated landmark in Toronto. The 6-acre grounds include two fruit orchards, a 1913 greenhouse, and lush ornamental gardens. Spadina is the only Toronto museum to represent the 1920s and 30s, and it does so with breathtaking accuracy. From draperies and wallpaper to kitchen cupboards and telephone books, Spadina features an unparalleled collection of original family artifacts and meticulously crafted reproductions.  The site offers house tours, garden tours, holiday and family events, special exhibits, birthday parties and summer camps. The museum shop offers a wide range of special mementos and unique gifts to bring home.  City of Toronto Historic Sites work collectively as 10 historic museums including: Colborne Lodge, Fort York National Historic Site, Gibson House Museum, Mackenzie House, Montgomery's Inn, Scarborough Museum, Spadina Museum, Todmorden Mills Heritage Site, York Museum and Zion Schoolhouse.  These museums work within a values framework of service, stewardship and commitment and are operated by the City of Toronto. These institutions maintain a leadership role in inspiring passion and understanding for Toronto, a diverse and vibrant city.  Each building located throughout Toronto tells a unique story in ways that engage citizens and tourists alike. The museum curators are experts in their field and are able to explain in creative ways through tours, events, classes, workshops, school programs, camps, birthday parties and more about Toronto’s evolution. You are encouraged to visit any one of the museums listed, whether you have been a resident your whole life or are a tourist visiting Toronto for a short time. These museums have something to offer everyone. Don’t just read about Toronto’s history – taste it, touch it, hear it and explore it.