While the Huron County Museum is temporarily closed to the public due to the province-wide shutdown, there are still so many ways you can enjoy our collections and services right from the comfort of your own home. Here are 10 ways you can stay safely connected with the history and culture of Huron County at this time:
- Reflections: The Life & Work of J.W. (Jack) McLaren: You can still explore the life and work of artist Jack McLaren right from home! Until we can welcome you back to enjoy this exhibit in person, our website features a virtual video tour of the exhibit as well as a recording of our most recent virtual talk featuring author Shawn Henshall, who shared more about the often overlooked story of McLaren’s life. Henshall recently published the book The Forgotten Legend: The Life Story of John Wilson McLaren, which you can order for curbside pickup from the Museum Gift Shop. The Museum Gift Shop also carries the exhibit catalogue that will allow you to enjoy many highlights from the exhibit, including the full collection of the paintings on loan from the local community.
- The Huron County Archives and Reading Room Virtual Services: While the Archives and Reading Room are closed to in-person research, the archival collection at the Huron County Museum can still be accessed by the public for research purposes through our new virtual research services. Virtual research with the Archivist is available by appointment. Each appointment includes two 15-minute virtual or telephone meetings and one hour of research time for $30+HST (other fees may apply). Additional research time can be purchased in 15-minute increments for $7.50+HST. To learn more about the resources and services available at the Archives and Reading Room, or to book a virtual research appointment, visit our website or contact the Huron County Museum Archivist at 519-524-2686, ext. 2201, or email mmolnar@huroncounty.ca.
- Virtual Exhibits: Take a virtual stroll down Main Street Huron County. Learn more about Huron County and the First World War. Discover the stories of agriculture in Huron County. The Huron County Museum’s virtual exhibits grant a close-up glimpse of select artifacts on permanent display in our galleries or from past temporary exhibits.
- 360° Tours: It’s almost as good as being there in person! Created using 360° technology, explore some of the spaces in the Huron County Museum and the Historic Gaol safely from home. These tours are always open!
- Online Collection: With more than 5,000 artifacts and archival materials, the Huron County Museum’s online collection allows you to explore examples of textiles, tools, personal items, furniture, photographs, documents, and many more artifacts and archival records held at the Museum. The online collection is always growing as new artifacts are added regularly.
- Huron Historic Newspapers: Explore more than a century’s worth of Huron County’s historic news online for free! The digitization of historical Huron County newspapers from microfilm and hard copy holdings is an on-going project undertaken by the Huron County Library and Huron County Museum. There are currently more than 350,000 newspaper pages are available spanning from 1848 to 2016 with more being added all the time! In 2020, magazines were added to the collection with the addition of The Rural Voice and The Village Squire.
- Huron County Historic Photographs: Step back in time while browsing the Museum’s historic photograph collection depicting the people and places of Huron County. Our Flickr page features a large number of royalty-free images, with many more found in our online collection linked above.
- Huron County Museum Videos: See how the Museum’s steam locomotive was moved to its current location, go behind the bars at the Historic Gaol, explore the life and work of Jack McLaren, and more from the Museum’s YouTube Channel.
- Museum Social: The Huron County Museum maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram regularly sharing highlights from our collection, stories from our past, and news about upcoming events and programming. Be sure to follow along to stay up-to-date on all of the latest Museum news.
- Museum Newsletter: Not on social media but would still like to stay connected to the Huron County Museum? Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to receive Museum news directly to your inbox. The sign-up form is found on the bottom of our home page.