Dive into the rich history of Niagara at 4 historic sites
Niagara Falls tends to steal the spotlight, but there’s so much more to explore on the Niagara Peninsula. Canada’s earliest history unfolded here in this key battleground of the War of 1812. You’ll discover stories of heroes and heroines, resisters, defectors, and plenty of intrigue as you explore the fascinating history of Niagara through sites preserved by Niagara Parks.
Next time you visit the Niagara Falls area, add these four historic sites to your itinerary to learn more about a side of Niagara history you may not yet know.
These four Niagara Parks heritage sites are featured in our upcoming Niagara River Parkway road trip. Have questions about planning your own visit? Join our Facebook community!
Presented in partnership with Niagara Parks
Learn about the fiercest War of 1812 battles at Old Fort Erie
Long before a town, an international bridge, or a scenic parkway existed at Fort Erie, the British built a fort on the banks of the Niagara River. It was erected in 1764 as a port and supply depot for the upper Great Lakes. Over time, Old Fort Erie bore witness to the War of 1812, Irish Republican raids, the Industrial Revolution, and the deadliest battles that have ever taken place on Canadian soil.
Your time here begins at the visitor centre, where an exhibit offers both British and American perspectives on the War of 1812 battles waged on this site. You’ll then tour the restored fort’s bastions and barracks and interact with costumed interpreters who explain what life was like as the fort changed hands between British and American forces.
We highly recommend joining a guided tour of Old Fort Erie. It’s free with admission and includes a short film that retells the fort’s story as well as a very detailed musket firing demonstration!
Hear a war hero’s story at Laura Secord Homestead
If the name Laura Secord makes you think of chocolate, allow us to introduce you to one of the most important women in early Canadian history at Laura Secord Homestead!
Laura Secord and her husband James lived in modern-day Queenston, Ontario, when the War of 1812 broke out in June of that year. James was horribly wounded in the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812, and Laura dutifully undertook nursing him back to health.
In 1813, as James was still recovering, the Americans invaded much of the Niagara Peninsula, including Queenston. While American soldiers were billeted at their home, Laura overheard plans of a surprise attack the Americans were planning on British forces. She snuck away the next morning and walked for 32 kilometres through the occupied territories to warn British Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. Her efforts helped the British win the ensuing Battle of Beaver Dams and altered the course of the war.
It took decades for Laura Secord’s contributions to be recognized. She was 85 when she finally received an acknowledgement and financial compensation from the government. Laura Secord is now remembered in Canada as a war hero.
The Laura Secord Homestead is a reconstruction built atop the foundation of the actual Secord family home in Queenston. Interestingly, it was the Laura Secord Chocolate Company — which has no direct ties to the Secord family and never compensated them for using Laura Secord’s name — that purchased and refurbished the site in the 1970s for use in its marketing.
Niagara Parks took over management of the Laura Secord Homestead in the 1990s. Today, visitors can take a guided tour to learn more about Laura Secord’s story and life in Upper Canada in the early 19th century. (And yes, you can also buy Laura Secord Chocolates in the gift shop.)
Read all about it: revolutionary journalism at Mackenzie Printery
Mackenzie Printery, also located in Queenston, is two museums in one. It pays tribute to one of Canada’s first independent journalists, William Lyon Mackenzie, and also preserves the evolution of printing presses in Canada.
By all accounts, William Lyon Mackenzie was an eccentric fellow. This fiery Scottish-born journalist immigrated to Upper Canada in 1820. In 1824, he moved to Queenston and founded the Colonial Advocate, one of the colony’s very few independent political newspapers. He vocally criticized Upper Canada’s leadership and called it the “Family Compact,” a dig at its deep-set nepotism.
Mackenzie’s candour made him popular, and his political career grew increasingly chaotic. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in 1827, became the first mayor of the City of Toronto in 1834, and led the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. When the rebels were defeated, he fled to the United States where he was jailed for 10 months for attempting to incite the Americans into overthrowing Upper Canada’s government.
And Mackenzie’s legacy in Canadian politics didn’t end there: his grandson, William Lyon Mackenzie King, was the 10th Prime Minister of Canada.
As if Mackenzie’s eclectic history isn’t reason enough to visit this fascinating museum, you can also see a rare Louis Roy Press here, the oldest printing press in Canada and one of only seven wooden printing presses left in the world. You’ll get to try typesetting on another historic printing press, see the genius design of a Linotype machine that became the predecessor to the typewriter, and take home some custom-printed souvenirs.
If you’re curious about the history of newspapers in Canada or about the unique personality of William Lyon Mackenzie, this Niagara Parks heritage site is a must-see!
Explore the history of Niagara at McFarland House
McFarland House, a historic home located just south of Niagara-on-the-Lake, is the oldest property owned by Niagara Parks and one of the oldest structures anywhere on the Niagara Peninsula. It was the homestead of John McFarland, who built it with his sons in 1800 after being gifted the land by the Crown in recognition of his military service.
When the Americans invaded in the War of 1812, McFarland was taken prisoner and expelled from the property. It was used as a hospital in wartime by both American and British forces. By the time he returned in 1815, the home and grounds were in complete disrepair. As the tale is told, McFarland was so devastated by what he found that he died of a broken heart.
The home was repaired and remained in the McFarland family for several generations until it was gifted to Niagara Parks. Today, visitors can take a guided tour and see the home as it would have looked in the early 1800s, including several objects that belonged to the McFarlands themselves.
In places here and throughout Niagara Parks heritage sites, there are hidden spots where many layers of paint have been sanded away to reveal the original colour. Some interesting stories are tucked away behind these simple panels. Ask your tour guide for more details!
In the McFarland House Conservatory, enjoy a traditional afternoon tea service daily from Wednesday to Sunday. And the surrounding McFarland Park offers riverside green space, a picnic pavilion, and a portion of the Niagara Parkway Recreation Trail that connects to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
All four of these Niagara Parks heritage sites are included with a Niagara Parks Adventure Pass Plus, along with many more of the most popular attractions in Niagara Falls!
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