Historic Walking Tours in Simcoe Muskoka

History is very important to the story of each town or city, it establishes identity, and preserves important parts of our past. To celebrate heritage week, Your North Life has highlighted a few different historic walks throughout Simcoe Muskoka that showcase the evolution of building styles, and people and places that played a role in local heritage matters.

Heritage Barrie Walking Tour

The Heritage Barrie committee have created several different walking tours throughout Barrie’s historic neighborhoods to share these heritage assets in a way that celebrates the past while embracing the urban experience.

One of the designated properties in the tour is the Allandale GO Station which was built in 1905. This three-building composition follows the curve of Kempenfelt Bay. It has wide eaves, detailed windows, columns, and breezeways common to the Italianate building style. 

The remainder of the tour showcases many residential homes that were built throughout the decades featuring Gothic Revival and Second Empire building styles. They are architecturally and historically important because many of these homes were resided by prominent businesspeople who brought much wealth to early life in the City of Barrie and also bringing various building styles.

Heritage Orillia Walking Tour

Downtown Orillia is a designated heritage district featuring many historically and architecturally significant buildings and spaces. This heritage walk is a self-guided tour encompassing much of the downtown district along with other residential properties just outside of this district. It begins at the Orillia Opera House finishing at the Mill House.

The Opera House was built in 1895 and is currently serving as a theatre. At one point in time, it served as a municipal office, police headquarters, and jail. A fire in 1915 destroyed the interior and roof which was later rebuilt in 1917. 

Just down the street the “Centre of King” is a building on Mississaga Street and the “Centre of King” is the middle building of three. This building is a typical example of the fine brick facades that still dominate Orillia’s historic downtown and was a common building style in 1900’s. Other properties along the tour showcase Victorian, Queen Anne, Second Empire, and Gothic architecture features which evolved over the decades.

Creemore Heritage Walk

Creemore’s Heritage Walk was created by the Purple Hills Arts and Heritage society with support from the Creemore Springs Brewery. It is a self-guided tour through the village that showcases how the community has changed over time. As you walk along you will see plaques that mark historically significant sites that document history and human stories of the area through words and pictures. 

Collingwood Heritage Walk

The Town of Collingwood has created three different walking tours through the downtown heritage district, and the East and West side of town. The Downtown Walking Tour walks along Hurontario Street and features many buildings that were built between 1880 and 1915. All these buildings are historically and architecturally significant to the history as they feature many different building styles, established the distinctive character in the district, and served many purposes like market buildings or offices. 

After the fire in 1881 that destroyed most of Hurontario Street, business owners were determined to rebuild in time for them to take advantage of Collingwood’s growth. The West and East heritage walks take you through residential areas near downtown. These homes were built by prominent businessmen that used their wealth from Collingwood’s growth to build Italianate brick homes along third street on the West side. Common architectural styles you’ll see are regency that originated in Australia which brought the idea of low-slung homes with deep eaves and verandas, while the Italianate style is more modern with squarish houses that have a characteristic

Source Heritage Collingwood

Bracebrdige Bay Trail

The Bracebridge Bay Trail walks along the Muskoka River and Bracebridge Bay totaling 1.3 kilometres.

Along the way you will pass 10 different historical points of interest marked by information plaques that tell the story of Bracebridge. Landmarks include Woodchester Villa and Bracebridge Falls. 

Gravenhurst Historic Walk

he Gravenhurst Historic Walk takes you through the historical points of interest in Gravenhurst’s downtown. This walk gives residents and visitors a chance to bring to life the history of how the town evolved.

The walk starts at Gull Lake Park ending at the now fire station which used to be the former town hall. At Gull Lake Park the “Music on the Barge” events predate 1959 and are a time-honored event. Music can still be heard here every Sunday with new acts. In addition to the concerts the park also served as an ice harvesting location during winter until electric refrigeration was invented.

Try out these walking tours and learn more about the rich history found in Simcoe Muskoka by following these self guided tours, and don’t forget to tag us in your post if you do @yournorthlife. 

-The BDAR Team

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