Sixteen spots across Niagara-on-the-Lake will be opening up their doors to the public for a day of discovery, history and architecture.
Doors Open Ontario will be hosted in town on Saturday, Oct. 17, with local sites offering free admission to guests to come inside and hear from knowledgeable guides about the living and built heritage of these places.
Many of the properties that have been part of Doors Open NOTL in past years are reopening their doors this Saturday, and will be joined by a few new additions.
Here is the list of sites, most of which will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some key exceptions:
The Exchange Brewery, 7 Queen St. Opens 11 a.m.
Home of Niagara’s first telephone exchange, this building was constructed in 1880 and turned into a brewery in 2015, with some of its original features kept intact and nods to its history part of the business today.
Grace United Church, 222 Victoria St.
Built in 1852, this Methodist church was designed by William Thomas, the same architect who designed Toronto’s St. Michael’s Cathedral and Brock’s Monument in Queenston. The congregation celebrated its 200th anniversary three years ago.
Mackenzie Printery, 1 Queenston St.
The restored home of publisher, rebellion leader and Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, this Georgian-style building was constructed in 1824. It houses the rare Louis Roy Press, the oldest printing press in Canada.
Navy Hall, 305 Ricardo St.
This building’s history dates back to 1815, following the end of the War of 1812. It was part of a collection of buildings that were erected in 1756 by British naval craftsman, a key supply facility for British forts on the upper Great Lakes. It became Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe’s residence in 1792.
Niagara Apothecary, 5 Queen St.
This building in the heritage district, built in 1818, operated as an apothecary for nearly a century, opening in the late 1860s and closing in 1964. It was restored and reopened as a museum in 1971.
Niagara District Court House, 26 Queen St.
Situated in the heart of Queen Street, the building known today as the old Court House, constructed in 1847, once served as the official county seat of the Niagara District until the judicial courts were moved to St. Catharines in 1862. Today, it hosts offices for Parks Canada and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as productions by the Shaw Festival in the Court House Theatre.
Niagara Lodge No. 2, 153 King St.
Built in 1792, this is the oldest Masonic lodge in Ontario and was the site of the first legislature of Upper Canada. It was also the site of the first hospital in Newark, founded by Col. John Butler.
Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, 247 Ricardo St.
Known today as a visual arts centre, this circa-1891 building, located on the banks of the Niagara River, once supplied water of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was restored and turned into the arts centre in 1994.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Lawn Bowling Club, 14 Anderson Ln.
Founded in 1877, this is one of sport’s oldest clubs in Canada. Located today next to the NOTL Community Centre, the club once bowled on the grounds of the Queen’s Royal Hotel.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, 43 Castlereagh St. Pop-up tours throughout the day.
While the NOTL Museum itself opened in 1907, the first building connected to the Nigara Historical Society (the founders of the museum), the high school building, dates back to 1806. Today, it spans three separate buildings and is ungoing a significant physical expansion.
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, 1366 York Rd. Opens 11 a.m., closes 8 p.m. Tours on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Located in the heart of St. Davids, this historical property dates back to 1867, when it was the Upper Lowrey Farm. Today, it plays host to an estate winery, vineyard and farm-to-table dining.
RiverBrink Art Museum, 116 Queenston St.
This Georgian-style building, located in the Queenston village, was built in 1970 and has been home of the RiverBrink Art Museum since 1983. Four exhibitions will be on at RiverBrink during Doors Open, with two of them ending this Saturday.
Shaw Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade. One-hour tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Shaw Festival’s largest venue, built in 1973 in the modernist style. As part of Doors Open, visitors will be invited backstage to hear about the history of the theatre and what’s gone into the making of the 2026 season.
St. Andrews Presbyterian, 323 Simcoe St. Closes 4 p.m.
Originally built in 1794, the church burned down during the War of 1812 when the American army set fire to much of Newark. A second attempt to revive it saw it destroyed by a cyclone. The church at Simcoe Street today, built by Kivas Tully, was built in 1855 — so far, it’s stayed put.
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, 73 Picton St.
Built in 1834, this is the oldest Catholic church building in continuous use for worship in Ontario. The St. Vincent de Paul congregation was founded in 1826 and celebrated its 200th anniversary in September.
Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, 14487 Niagara River Pwky.
Alexander Hamilton (son of Robert Hamilton, one of the founders of Upper Canada), commissioned the construction of this Neoclassical estate in 1834 to be built by architect John Latshaw. Since 2006, it’s been the home of a heritage conservation diploma program.
