Elmes Yelverton Steele and the Napoleonic Wars
By Fred Blair OMAH History CommitteeIn 1798, Elmes Yelverton Steele joined the Royal Navy in England as an officer cadet. In 1799, the British acquired intelligence that Napoleon had commissioned four Spanish vessels to transport over twelve million pounds sterling...
Music and Mocktails at the Museum
OMAH is hosting a unique new event that will bring emerging musicians to the museum for an evening of live entertainment and refreshing mocktails developed by mixologist and museum assistant Mikenna Richardson. Music and Mocktails kicks off on Thursday, September 29,...
Remembering OPP Constable Willis Jacob
By Dave Osborne, OMAH VolunteerThe bridge at Highway 12 South is dedicated to Constable Willis Jacob, who died in a fatal motor vehicle collision in 1958Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Constable Willis Jacob, age 35, a three-year veteran, reported to work as usual at...
THE HISTORY OF OMAH’S CLOCKTOWER
By Mary Ann Grant – OMAH History CommitteeWhat’s going on?? If you have been by OMAH recently you will have noticed the scaffolding installed on the building and the work underway. The Sir Sam Steele Memorial Building, specifically the clock tower, is getting some...
WENDY HUTCHINGS – TRIBUTE
Wendy Hutchings – Tribute by Mary Ann Grant - OMAH History Committee The Orillia Museum of Art & History believes that it is important to acknowledge its supporters, those who have made a contribution to the culture of our community and to keeping our local...
Brief History of OTACO
R.W. Phelps was born on January 14, 1888 in Iowa. He ultimately graduated as an Industrial Engineer. Early in his career he caught the attention of A.G. Bush who had a small company that manufactured one-cylinder engines that were used for farm and industrial...
John Ramsay and the Oro Settlers from Islay
By Fred Blair, OMAH History Committee John Ramsay grew up in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1836, at the age of 22, he obtained a lease on the struggling Port Ellen whisky distillery on the Island of Islay in Argyllshire, Scotland. In order to export whisky to the United...
Our Carnegie Library
By Mary Ann Grant, OMAH History Committee Did you know that Orillia’s first official Public Library was a gift from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie? Andrew Carnegie was responsible for funding the building of libraries worldwide. The extent of the benefits...
HODGES’ LANDING: A BRIEF HISTORY
By Fred Blair The “Historic Hawkestone” plaque, located at 375 11th Line South, Hawkestone, recorded that “Richard Hodges established a landing for settlers” on Lake Simcoe in the 1830s in the community that is now known as Hawkestone. However, land records indicate...
Address
Address
Open Hours
Tuesday - Saturday, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm