Ontario heritage site, the hallett in Fort Frances, ON

Museum

Discover the History - Celebrating Community Heritage

Fort Frances Museum & Cultural Centre

Admission & Hours

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The Fort Frances Museum & Cultural Centre is located on Treaty #3 Territory in the heart of downtown Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario. Founded in 1978, The Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit items, stories, and local knowledge that depict the story of the Town, the land, and its people. Originally constructed as a schoolhouse in 1898, the Museum continues to be an educational resource to the community, offering interpretive tours and permanent galleries with a focus on local and regional history, a variety of traveling and locally curated exhibits, an extensive local archive, and a collections space with over 10,000 items. In addition to the main building, the Museum also maintains two heritage sites, a logging tugboat and a lookout tower located on the waterfront which overlook the beautiful Manidoo Ziibi (Rainy River). The Museum is a welcoming and accessible space for all people; a place for learning, teaching, and sharing different ways of knowing, allowing everyone the opportunity to learn where they come from.

On July 1st of 1978, the doors opened to the Fort Frances Museum & Cultural Centre. After being in the library for a number of years and establishing the Lookout Tower Museum, the museum committee, which was established in 1975, proceeded with finding a home for a museum. When the building at 259 Scott Street was deemed available, the committee saw the future of the museum. A public campaign and support from the Town Council realized the vision of a permanent museum.

Heritage Policy Statement

(Adopted by Council of the Town of Fort Frances 2004)

  • The Town of Fort Frances recognizes the value of its cultural heritage to its own community and to visitors to the community;
  • We recognize the value of maintaining, protecting, and presenting the legacy left by our predecessors for our children and in turn, their children;
  • We recognize the value of presenting our story to visitors from both educational and entertainment perspectives to optimize tourism opportunities;
  • The Town of Fort Frances is committed to maintaining, protecting, preserving and promoting its cultural heritage.

The Fort Frances Museum
259 Scott Street
Fort Frances, ON
P9A 1G8

Phone: (807) 274-7891
museum@fortfrances.ca