Construction of Upper Canada Village began in 1958 as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway project, which required the permanent flooding of ten communities in the area, known as The Lost Villages. Upper Canada Village was a part of the project's heritage preservation plan. Many of the buildings in Upper Canada Village were transported directly from the villages to be flooded. The park, owned and operated by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, was opened to the public in 1961. Other buildings from the Lost Villages were moved to Ault Park, where they comprise a living museum run by the Lost Villages Historical Society. The park also incorporates a memorial to the Battle of Crysler's Farm, a War of 1812 battle which also took place on land submerged by the Seaway project.
Collection
Upper Canada Village endeavours to depict life in a rural English Canadian setting during the year 1866. Featured at the site are over 40 historical buildings, including several working mills and trades buildings. Farming is demonstrated through the growing, harvesting or processing of heritage vegetables and livestock. Aspects of late 19th-century domestic arts, social life, music, religion, and politics are also discussed, interpreted and demonstrated at by staff dressed in clothing of the period. Local gardens in the village feature the flora and fauna commonly grown in the summer
;Asselstine Factory ;Bakery ;Beach's Sawmill ;Bellamy's Flour Mill ;Blacksmith ;Broommaker ;Cabinetmaker ;Christ Church ;Cook's Tavern ;Crysler Hall ;Crysler Store ;Dressmaker ;Engine House ;Family Activity Centre ;Gazette Printing Office ;Loucks Farm ;Lutheran Pastor House ;McDiarmid House ;Physician's House ;Providence Chapel ;Robertson House ;Ross Farm ;School House ;Shoemaker ;Tenant Farm ;Tinsmith's Shop ;Union Cheese Factory ;Willard's Hotel
Visitors information
Upper Canada Village suggests the following tours if you are only able to stay for one or two hours: One Hour: Cook's Tavern, Crysler Hall, Loucks Farm, Gazette Printing Office and one of the mills Two Hours:Asselstine's Woollen Factory, Bellamy's Steam Flour Mills, Beach's Sawmill, Cook's Tavern, Crysler Store, Crysler Hall, Dressmaker's Shop, Loucks Farm, Gazette Printing Office, School House, Ross Farm and Blacksmith Shop Upper Canada Village hosts various special events throughout their season and more information can be found on their website.
