Museums and Art Galleries
Huron County Museum
Always changing. Always inspiring.
The Huron County Museum is home to historical and cultural exhibitions, both temporary and permanent. Thousands of artifacts illustrate the history of both our rural and urban communities in a variety of themes and topics. Gratefully, we continue to accept donations of historical items from members of the local and larger community allowing our collection to grow.
Permanent exhibitions feature early settlement, agriculture, military, and main street galleries including a full-size steam locomotive central to the building. A variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year investigate and explore topics of local significance.
The Huron County Museum offers a variety of events, activities and exhibits throughout the year to welcome the public through our doors.
Huron Historic Gaol
The Huron Historic Gaol is a unique octagonal building which served as the County Jail from its opening in 1841 until its closure in 1972. At the time of construction, it was viewed as a model of humanitarian prison design. Originally the building served as Gaol for the Counties of Huron, Bruce and Perth but after the counties separated the building served only the County of Huron for the majority of its history.
Throughout its history the Gaol housed inmates registered for crimes from misdemeanors to criminal convictions, including three men who were hanged for crimes of murder. It also provided shelter as the House of Refuge for the ill, destitute and mentally ill. Men, women and children all spent time in the Gaol throughout its history.
The Gaol is now a National Historic Site visited by thousands of people each year.
Open May 1 to October 31. Admission Charged. Not wheelchair accessible.