What to do and see in Kitchener, Region of Waterloo: The Best Museums

Open Sesame is many things: It is a gallery that exhibits contemporary art. It is a shop that sells thoughtfully designed housewares, stationery, jewelry, accessories, and toys, with numerous items for children. It is a source for distinctive books, magazines, and zines. It hosts the KW Zine Library. It presents workshops on various topics. performance venue that hosts concerts in many genres.

The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum is the largest community museum in Ontario. Our campus of historical attractions includes the Waterloo Region Museum which showcases more than 12,000 years of history in Waterloo Region; Doon Heritage Village - a recreation of rural village in 1914, with more than 20 historic buildings, costumed interpreters and farm animals; the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame honouring individuals and groups who have brought recognition to themselves and Waterloo Region; and the Region of Waterloo Curatorial Centre - our world class artifact preservation and storage facility. The Waterloo Region Museum and the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame are open year round. Doon Heritage Village is open seasonally from May 1 through December 23. The public hours for the museum and village are different at some times of the year.

A local landmark and one of Kitchener's oldest dwellings. Schneider Haus National Historic Site features hands-on activities, special events, and more for the whole family! History comes to life as costumed staff demonstrate traditional tasks through the seasons. Also features a modern interpretation wing that hosts gallery exhibits, workshops and lectures. The heart of the complex is an 1816 Georgian-frame farmhouse that was built by and was home to the area's earliest non-Aboriginal settlers, Joseph and wife Barbara Schneider, who were Pennsylvania-German Mennonites.

The mission of Homer Watson House & Gallery is to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Homer Watson’s creative spirit by stimulating the appreciation, enjoyment and practice of the visual arts. Mandate The Homer Watson House & Gallery will fulfill its mission by engaging in a four-part program of: Preservation and Collection of Homer Watson’s art, his home studio and gallery and the heritage of his life, his times and that of the Doon School of Fine Arts. Exhibition of the broad spectrum of Watson’s art and regular shows of contemporary local and regional artists. Education through instructional programs in the visual arts for the general public and curriculum-based school programming. Enrichment through special programs, events and activities.

We are THEMUSEUM - oneword, UPPERCASE. We are a new kind of museum - one of ideas and experiences. No dusty objects, no collections, and no velvet ropes here. We are dedicated to presenting fresh, relevant cultural content from around the globe in unique and interactive ways that intersect art, science, culture and technology. We are a premier cultural destination and a hub for creative thinking and inspired play. From Andy Warhol to Jane Goodall to Titanic to Yoko Ono, THEMUSEUM is the only museum around that is bold enough to feature such a wide range of cultural content under one roof. We offer a diverse array of exhibitions, programs, and events for children, youth, families and adults guaranteed to awe, inspire and enlighten all audiences. Featuring five floors and 55,000 square feet of interactive exhibitions, THEMUSEUM has a little bit of everything and a whole lot of imagination, education, and good ol' fashion family fun. The public hours for THEMUSEUM are subject to change.