Museums and Landmarks of Toronto

John Goddard's Inside the Museums is the perfect book to accompany this tour of all the designated heritage sites of Toronto. Toronto, as one would guess, is a culturally alive city that has not only lived through but helped foster some of the watershed moments in Ontario history. And no, we don't just mean the War of 1812 - though that is, of course, a part. From the influence of the Victorian and Georgian eras to the rapid advancements made by industrialization; from the arts to sports - Toronto carries it all. 

This tour touches on both the old world of Toronto - before the city's incorporation in 1834 (when it was known as York) - and the history found afterward. It consists of old buildings and museums; those few remaining glimpses of an older world. 

This is a tour best navigated with healthy walking and a few hops on Toronto's TTC (transit). You can try to squeeze it all into a few days, or take your time and spread it out over the course of a week. Step back in time and see how the old world is still an integral part of the new. 

For more reading to go with Mr. Goddard's look into the museums, take a look at Mike Filey's Toronto Sketches for some not-so-well-known history and the coffe-table wonder Toronto's Visual Legacya history of the city in photographs, dating as far back as 1856. The University of Toronto: A History is also a keeper for learning about one of Toronto's oldest and most prominent institutions. 

If you're looking for something a little off-the-wall, why not try Terry Murray's Faces on Places - a historical tour of the strange and grotesque gargoyles found on Toronto's buildings. 

Other Tours to Consider: 
Toronto's Waterfront - The Islands

 

Destinations

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