Type: Museum

Constructed between 1855 and 1859, this house was the home of William Lyon Mackenzie, printer, newspaper editor, Toronto’s first mayor, and leader of the 1837 Rebellion. The house was restored as a historic house museum and is operated by the City of Toronto. Mackenzie House commemorates the lives and times of its occupants and the urban history of Victorian Toronto.

Programming:

Conservation/Preservation:

Artefacts

Nineteenth century furniture and household items, as well as printing shop artefacts including a printing press built in 1845.

Architecture

The Mackenzie House is a nineteenth century home which was once part of a terrace of houses. The house was constructed with a Greek Revival style between 1855 and 1858.

Public Programming

Programming includes walking tours of the downtown core, historic cooking and printing workshops, and special programs such as Hogmanay, Robbie Burns, Doors Open and Nuit Blanche. Mackenzie House participates in city-wide programs such as Luminato, Pride Week/Month and Contact Photography Festival. The site often partners with outside community groups to present programming and exhibits such as Archives of Ontario, Ryerson University and the Downtown Yonge BIA.

EXHIBITIONS

A modern gallery space hosts changing exhibitions covering different historical themes, such as William Lyon Mackenzie’s life,  Christmas in Toronto, In the Footsteps of Black Victorians, The History of the Black Press, Contact Photography Festival photos, and Read All About It: The First World War as Front Page News.

Tours

Mackenzie House offers guided tours of the historic house and re-created print shop.

Educational Programming

Mackenzie House offers curriculum based education programs for elementary, intermediate and high school and specialized programs for University and College students. Each are designed to complement a particular grade school curriculum, including the Grade 7 Rebellion program, Mackenzie’s Toronto walking tour, Black Press and Green Fields of Canada: the Impact of the Potato Famine on the City of Toronto.

 

Volunteer/Internship/Placement Opportunities:

Volunteer opportunities are available. Mackenzie House welcomes volunteer docents, print shop volunteers and volunteer historic cooks. Notably, volunteers would not be able to lead educational programs. Volunteers can conduct special research projects or re-organizing programs, but this opportunity requires discussion between the volunteer and management.

Mackenzie House has used interns in the past. Prior interns have come from Young Canada Works, Master of Museum Studies Program at University of Toronto and York University.

Mackenzie House has hosted student placements in the past and has occasionally hired students through the Young Canada Works program.

Address & Contact Information:

Mackenzie House
82 Bond Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5B 1X2

Phone: 416-392-6915
Email: machouse@toronto.ca
Website: www.toronto.ca/mackenziehouse

Hours of Operation:

January – April
Open Saturday to Sunday, Noon – 5 p.m.

May – Labour Day
Open Tuesday to Sunday, Noon – 5 p.m.

September – December
Open Tuesday to Friday, Noon – 4 p.m., Saturday to Sunday, Noon – 5 p.m.

Christmas Eve, New Years Eve Day, Noon – 4 p.m.
Mondays, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Closed

Key Words: politics, household, domestic, urban