Things to do in Prince Edward County, Prince Edward County: The Best History Museums

Imagine being trapped in Macaulay House, with only Museum artifacts and your understanding of Prince Edward County history to help you escape! The year is 1846 and Rev. William Macaulay has fallen behind in paying his servants. A stash of jewelry and precious metals is rumoured to be hidden somewhere in the house - your help is needed to solve a series of clues and puzzles to find it!

Mariners Park Museum explores the many ways the inhabitants of Prince Edward County have earned their living from the surrounding waters from fishing and ship building through ice harvesting and rum running. The lighthouse relocated from False Duck Island beckons visitors to the site, where they can also explore Fort Kente and enjoy a picnic in the park. More than 50 shipwrecks have been located in the waters surrounding Prince Edward County and the Mariners Park Museum has become the home of many treasures retrieved during early diving expeditions. Admission by donation.

Wellington Heritage Museum is located in the heart of the village of Wellington. It was built in 1885 as a Quaker Meeting House and now features changing exhibits on local history. In addition, the Douglas A. Crawford Canning Industry Collection conveys the importance of that industry in Prince Edward County. There were over 75 different canning factories operating here between 1882 and 1996.

Rose House has survived since the early 1800s with few alterations, inhabited by 5 generations of the Rose family. Peter Rose arrived in Prince Edward County among the first Marysburgh settlers, made up largely of United Empire Loyalists and Hessian (German) soldiers who had fought for the British in the American Revolution. According to tradition, Rose House is constructed from salvaged timber from the community’s original Lutheran Church. Peter and his wife, Christina Bongard, raised 11 children in this modest farmhouse.

Ameliasburgh Heritage Village has grown from one building in 1968, to a complex of museum buildings and displays. The main structure was built in 1868 as a Wesleyan Methodist Church. It became a United Church in 1925 and served the community until 1967. Over the years, several additional buildings have been added to the site. A log cabin, display barns, an operational blacksmith shop, a carpenter’s shop, a sap shanty, dairy and beekeeping buildings, a general store and a large stone building housing the Goldie Corliss 18 foot flywheel. A highlight is Amelia’s Tea Room, which offers refreshments during special events or by request for group tours.

Macaulay Heritage Park is an attractive historic site featuring many points of interest: Macaulay House, built in 1830 and restored to the mid 1850s; the historic former Church of St. Mary Magdalene, now a museum; the old St. Mary Magdalene Parish Cemetery; the Heritage Gardens, and the Carriage House.