This February the NOTL Museum is once again offering Free February - no admission for all Niagara
residents, for the entire month. This is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the family to experience
not only the beautiful heritage building at 43 Castlereagh Street, but also to learn about Niagara’s truly
unique history.
The museum is home to more than 50,000 artefacts, but limited space means that only certain items
can be exhibited at one time. Exhibits on display include a chronological history of the town, Indigenous
artifacts that date back more than 10,000 years, and of course the best War of 1812 Museum collection
in Canada. An upstairs gallery known as the Student Education Gallery features various exhibits that
include a quirky and adventurous look at moving on two wheels called “A History of Cycling”, a massive
wooden rowboat that belonged to the historic Queens Royal Hotel, and a panoramic photo display that
shows how Queen Street has changed through the years.
During Free February visitors can enjoy the NOTL Museum’s current exhibit, Strike a Pose – The Art of
Self-Obsession, which shows how the people of Niagara documented themselves for centuries, with
paint, pens, photos or pixels. Bring the family and take a family selfie, and then add your picture to the
exhibit using #StrikeaPoseNOTL.
Young visitors can also take up the NOTL Museum Scavenger Hunt challenge, and along the way learn
about Niagara’s early history while finding unusual artefacts right there in the museum. And an
overflowing ‘dress-up trunk’ has garments that will transform anyone into soldiers and settlers, even
brave parents.
During Free February, the Museum’s popular ‘Virtual Lectures Series’ continues, with weekly lectures
on Wednesdays at 11am. Check the museum website for full details: www.notlmuseum.ca