List of museums in Toronto


There are a variety of different museums in Toronto. Types of museums located in Toronto include agricultural museums, art museums, fashion museums, food museums, history museums, military museums, railway museums, science museums, and textile museums.

Current museums

The following is a list of museums current located in Toronto. The following list does not include virtual museums that do not have physical galleries, regardless if they're based in Toronto.
NameImageNeighborhoodAreaAttendanceTypeSummaryRef.
48th Highlanders MuseumEntertainment DistrictOld TorontoMilitary Regimental museum for the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The museum has been situated in St. Andrew's Church since 1997
A Space GalleryFashion DistrictOld TorontoArtArtist-run contemporary art gallery
Aga Khan MuseumDon MillsNorth YorkArtMuslim arts and culture
Applewood Shaver HomesteadEatonvilleEtobicokeHistoric houseHistoric house museum situated in a homestead dating back to c. 1850s
Art Gallery of OntarioGrange ParkOld Toronto974,736 ArtGallery of Canadian and European art, with a collection that includes decorative arts, contemporary art, and sculptures. The museum also includes The Grange, a historic home used as an art space and lounge by the museum.
Art Gallery of York UniversityYork University HeightsNorth YorkArtGallery of contemporary art. A university museum of York University, it is housed in the university's Accolade East Building.
Art Museum at the University of TorontoDiscovery DistrictOld Toronto63,393 ArtA university museum for contemporary art, comprising the adjacent Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at Hart House, and the University of Toronto Art Centre at University College. The two galleries were formerly separate entities before they were amalgamated into the Art Museum at the University of Toronto in 2014.
Bata Shoe MuseumDiscovery DistrictOld Toronto110,334 FashionHistory of footwear from around the world
Black Creek Pioneer VillageYork University HeightsNorth York141,000 LivingA living history museum situated in North York. The property contains a number of early-to-mid 19th century buildings.
Campbell House MuseumGrange ParkOld TorontoHistoric houseHistoric house museum that is situated in a house dating back to 1822. The building was converted into a historical house in 1974. The building also includes an art gallery
Canadian Language MuseumLawrence ParkOld TorontoLinguisticsPromotes the languages of Canada and the scientific study of languages. Situated within Glendon Gallery building of Glendon College, an English/French bilingual college of York University
Canadian Sculpture CentreDistillery DistrictOld TorontoArtContemporary Canadian sculpture gallery, operated by the Sculptors Society of Canada
Casa LomaCasa LomaOld Toronto350,000Historic houseA historic house museum situated in an estate completed in 1914. The estate was converted into a historical house in 1937.
Cedar Ridge Creative CentreWoburnScarboroughArtArt centre with exhibit gallery situated in a house dating back to the mid-19th century. The house was conveted to an art centre in 1978.
Colborne LodgeSwanseaOld TorontoHistoric houseHistoric house museum situated in a building dating back to 1836, and reopened as a historic house in 1890. The museum is operated by the City of Toronto government
Doris McCarthy GalleryHighland CreekScarboroughArtA contemporary art gallery of the University of Toronto Scarborough
Enoch Turner SchoolCorktownOld TorontoLivingA living history museum of a Victorian-era period schoolhouse. The museum is housed in a schoolhouse dating back to 1848. The building was converted into a living history museum in 1970.
Etobicoke Civic Centre Art GalleryEatonvilleEtobicokeArtThe gallery is housed in the centre block of the Etobicoke Civic Centre
First Floor Gallery & Architecture and Design GalleryDiscovery DistrictOld TorontoArtThe First Floor Gallery and the Architecture and Design Gallery are two university art galleries managed by the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, and located at 1 Spadina Crescent. It features exhibitions of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and allied design fields
Fort YorkFort YorkOld TorontoMilitaryFort York was a defensive fortification, featuring buildings from the late-18th to early 19th century. Operated by City of Toronto government, it is presently used as a War of 1812 museum, featuring exhibits and historical re-enactments. The fort was reopened for public use by the city in 1934.
Gallery ArcturusGarden DistrictOld TorontoArtFree, public contemporary art museum with rotating exhibits as well as workshops
Gardiner MuseumDiscovery DistrictOld TorontoArtCeramic art
Gibson HouseWillowdaleNorth YorkHistoric houseThe historic house museum is situated in a house dating back to 1851. The building was converted into a heritage house in 1971. The museum is operated by City of Toronto government
Hockey Hall of FameFinancial DistrictOld Toronto256,754 SportsIce hockey hall of fame
InterAccessDovercourt ParkOld TorontoArtMedia arts
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre GalleryDon MillsNorth YorkArtThe gallery at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre houses contemporary art with an East Asian perspective
Koffler Centre of the ArtsTrinity-BellwoodsOld TorontoArtContemporary arts centre housed in the Artscape Youngplace building
Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive CentreNew TorontoEtobicokeArtsFree exhibit and gallery spaces, workshops, & interpretive tours
Mackenzie HouseGarden DistrictOld TorontoHistoric houseHistoric house museum built in 1830. The building was re-purposed into a heritage museum in 1936, and is operated by the City of Toronto government
Market GallerySt. LawrenceOld TorontoMultipleChanging exhibits of Toronto's history, art and culture, located inside St. Lawrence Market
Mercer UnionWallace EmersonOld TorontoArtArtist-run contemporary art centre
Montgomery's InnThe KingswayEtobicokeHistoric housePeriod historic inn situated in an inn completed in 1832. The museum is operated by the City of Toronto
Morris and Sally Justein Heritage MuseumLawrence ManorNorth YorkCultural/ethnicLocated in the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, exhibits of Judaic heritage and culture
Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto CanadaJunction TriangleOld Toronto30,000 ArtAlso known as MOCA. Formerly known as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art
MZTV Museum of TelevisionLiberty VillageOld TorontoMediaHistoric television sets and memorabilia
Neilson Park Creative CentreMarkland WoodEtobicokeArtIncludes two galleries for exhibits of contemporary fine arts and crafts
OCAD University GalleriesGrange ParkOld TorontoArtArt galleries managed by the OCAD University art school, includes its Graduate Student Gallery
Ontario Science CentreFlemingdon ParkNorth York900,225 ScienceThemes include geology, nature, astronomy, music, technology, anatomy, communications
Open Studio GalleryFashion DistrictOld TorontoArtArtist-run printmaking centre
Oral History MuseumGlen ParkNorth YorkHistory Oral histories of different ethnic peoples of Canada, combining the spoken word with photographs, multi-media and computer simulation
Osborne Collection of Early Children's BooksGrange ParkOld TorontoLiteratureLocated in the Lillian H. Smith branch of the Toronto Public Library, changing exhibits of books, art, documents and more from the collection
Power PlantHarbourfrontOld Toronto77,243 ArtContemporary art gallery
Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental MuseumCasa LomaOld TorontoMilitary Regimental museum of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, located on the third floor of Casa Loma
Redpath Sugar MuseumHarbourfrontOld TorontoFoodSugar manufacture and industry in Canada, located at the Redpath Sugar Refinery
Reuben & Helene Dennis MuseumHumewood–CedarvaleYorkCultural/ethnicLocated in Beth Tzedec Synagogue, it contains Jewish art, ceremonial objects and history
Riverdale FarmCabbagetownOld TorontoAgricultural/historic farmWorking heritage farm with an 1860s to 1920s Ontario focus
Royal Canadian Military Institute MuseumGrange ParkOld TorontoMilitaryFeatures guns, swords, spears, other weapons from around the world, badges, uniforms, medals, art, miniatures, photographs and other military memorabilia. Located at the Royal Canadian Military Institute.
Royal Ontario MuseumDiscovery DistrictOld Toronto1,440,000 MultipleIncludes dinosaurs, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history
Royal Regiment of Canada MuseumFort YorkOld TorontoMilitary Regimental museum covering the history of The Royal Regiment of Canada, located in the Fort York Armoury.
Ryerson Image CentreGarden DistrictOld TorontoArtOperated by Ryerson University, includes gallery spaces for photography, new media, installation art and film
Saint Mark's Coptic MuseumSteelesScarboroughArtCoptic and Christian art, icons, coins, crosses, manuscripts, pottery, woodwork
Scarborough MuseumBendaleScarboroughHistoric housesLocal history, 1910s period house, mid-19th century log house, carriage works, operated by the City of Toronto government
Spadina HouseCasa LomaOld TorontoHistoric houseHistoric mansion reflecting four generations and periods, operated by the City of Toronto government
Taras Shevchenko MuseumHigh Park NorthOld TorontoBiographicalLife and works of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko
Textile Museum of CanadaDiscovery DistrictOld Toronto29,190 TextileIncludes fabrics, ceremonial cloths, garments, carpets, quilts and related artifacts
Thomas Fisher Rare Book LibraryDiscovery DistrictOld TorontoLiteratureChanging exhibits of books, art, documents and other literary works from its collections
Tollkeeper's Cottage MuseumWychwood ParkOld TorontoHistoric house1800s heritage museum, an example of tollkeeper's cottages in Ontario during the 19th century
Todmorden MillsOld East YorkEast YorkMultipleIncludes local history and industry museum, art gallery, theatre, operated by the City of Toronto government
Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit ArtFinancial DistrictOld TorontoArtLocated in the Toronto-Dominion Centre, collection of Inuit art, a cooperative project of Cadillac Fairview and the Toronto-Dominion Bank
Toronto Police Museum and Discovery CentreDiscovery DistrictOld TorontoHistory Museum on the history of the Toronto Police Service. The museum is located at the Toronto Police Headquarters
Toronto Railway MuseumCityPlaceOld TorontoRailwayLocated at Roundhouse Park
TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference LibraryYorkvilleOld TorontoLiteratureChanging exhibits from its collections in the TD Gallery. Located in the Toronto Reference Library
Toronto Scottish Regiment MuseumNew TorontoEtobicokeMilitary Regimental museum covering the history of The Toronto Scottish Regiment
Toronto Sculpture GardenSt. LawrenceOld TorontoArtSmall park with changing sculpture exhibits
Fourth York Post OfficeOld TownOld TorontoHistory Historic working post office and museum
Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario BranchHarbord VillageOld TorontoCultural/ethnicLocated in the St. Vladimir Institute, Ukrainian art, folk art, clothing, jewelry, religious objects, heritage and culture
Zion SchoolhouseDon Valley VillageNorth YorkLivingA living history museum for education, situated in a one-room schoolhouse built in 1869. Operated by the City of Toronto Cultural Services.

Non-permanent museums

of Toronto is a "pop-up" museum that provides exhibitions throughout the Greater Toronto Area, and does not have a physical location. It attempts to celebration the evolution of local communities, cultures, and urban and natural spaces of Toronto.
Theatre Museum Canada presently hosts travelling exhibits in various venues in Toronto. The museum's administrative offices are located in Toronto. In 2011, the museum announced it would move into a permanent facility at 355 King Street West. The museum would be situated inside the King Blue condominium development in the Entertainment District.

Former museums

Relocated

The following table includes museums whose facilities were formerly located in Toronto, although have since moved beyond the city limits.
NameImageTypeYear openedYear closed in TorontoNew locationSummary
Canada's Sports Hall of FameSports19552006Calgary, AlbertaThe Canadian hall of fame and museum was located at Exhibition Place from 1955 to 2006. It was situated in the former officers' quarters of New Fort York from 1955 to 1957, the Press Building from 1957 to 1961, and the Hall of Fame building from 1961 to 2006. The hall of fame museum was closed in 2006 to make way for BMO Field. The organization reopened its hall of fame museum in Calgary in 2011.
Canadian Air and Space MuseumAviation19972011Springwater, OntarioThe museum's collection put in storage in 2011, after the closure of its facility in Downsview Park. The museum's office is presently based in Mississauga-based offices of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. In 2019, a permanent home for the museum was found at Edenvale Airport in Springwater, Ontario. The museum will be renamed the Canadian Air and Space Conservancy upon its reopening.

Defunct

The following list includes former museums in Toronto that were closed.
NameImageTypeOpenedClosedSummary
Canada's Design MuseumDesign20122019Housed within the original Toronto Stock Exchange building, the museum was operated by Design Exchange
Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame MuseumSportsTemporary home for the museum for the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was situated at Downsview Park.
CBC MuseumMedia19942017Located in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre
Children's Own MuseumChildren's19972002Originally opened as a temporary exhibit at the Harbourfront Centre, it was later relocated to the McLaughlin Planetarium in 1998.
McLaughlin PlanetariumPlanetarium19681995The building was closed in 1995, and was later sold to the University of Toronto in 2009. The university has announced plans to demolish the structure to make way for additional facilities.
Museum of Inuit ArtArt20072016Located within Queen's Quay Terminal. Not to be confused with the Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art.
Parliament Interpretive CentreMilitary20122015Built atop the First Parliament Building of Upper Canada. The museum was opened from 2012 to 2015 as a part of War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations, and focused on the settlement of York during the war.
Olympic Spirit TorontoSports20042006An Olympics-themed sports museum. It was located in 35 Dundas Street East. Its building is presently used as the television studios for Rogers Communications' Citytv and Omni Television.
Toronto Free GalleryArt2004Non-profit activist gallery. Opened in 2004, and relocated buildings in 2008.
Toronto Maritime MuseumMaritime19582008Established as the Marine Museum of Upper Canada, it was located at Stanley Barracks, it moved to a building at Queens Quay in 1999, before closing in 2008.