Royal Ontario Museum incorporates a unique mix of galleries that showcase art, archaeological objects and scientific specimens. The museum, which sees more than a million visitors annually, houses a collection of over six million objects on three floors. This is the only place in Toronto where you can enjoy unravelling the mysteries of the Egyptian mummies, watch and hear an active beehive and view inspiring artwork from many different countries. When you leave, you take along memories of a unique experience.
The new and renovated Art Gallery of Ontario holds permanent collections of art in different mediums, be it paintings, sculpture or collections of historic artifacts. This museum in the Chinatown district is one of Canada's largest fine art museums. You can view exhibits, including the 19th-century Impressionists, Henry Moore and an exclusive Canadian collection of paintings by the famous Group of Seven. In all, there is a permanent collection of over 24,000 works representing 1,000 years of European, Canadian and contemporary art. Facilities include a gift shop, restaurant and a family-oriented activity center.
The Hockey Hall of Fame is the place where you can test your hockey trivia skills or goalie reflexes. The hall, located in Brookfield Place, features an interactive, hands-on account of the evolution of Canada's game. It's a trip down the sport's memory lane, fueled by displays, trophies, memorabilia, movies and video games. While you're there, you can get a souvenir photo taken of yourself beside the Stanley Cup trophy. Facilities include the Spirit of Hockey store full of collectibles.
Built over three years beginning in 1911, Casa Loma was born of the lofty ambitions of the Canadian financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Inspired by the castles of Europe, Pellatt sought to employ the formidable resources at his disposal to build for himself a grand chateau in the heart of Toronto; an abode truly befitting the aspirations of the magnate. Built in the Gothic Revival style, Casa Loma appears to have sprung from the pages of a fairy tale, replete with hidden passages and generously adorned with exquisite art. The castle features 98 lavishly decorated rooms and is surrounded by a beautiful estate complete with its own conservatory, gardens, and stables. The Great Hall's sculptured pillars, the Conservatory's stained glass ceiling, the Library's impressive cache of books, and the subterranean tunnel to the stables outside are just a few of the many treasures that define the estate. Pellatt's triumph was short-lived, however, his businesses buckling in the aftermath of World War I, forcing him to sell his home. Today, Casa Loma is a museum and popular event venue.
If you like shoes, you'll love this museum devoted entirely to footwear; see shoes from various cultures and all parts of the world, from ancient times to the present. Fancy shoes and basic ones, boots and sandals, they are all in the Raymond Moriyama building, located north of the University of Toronto campus. You can view more than 10,000 pairs in all. Celebrity shoes include Queen Victoria's ballroom slippers, Elvis's blue patent loafers and Karen Kain's ballet pointes.
This expansive, 31,000 square foot museum focuses solely on Islamic art throughout the ages. Spanning over 1000 years of history, the Aga Khan Museum contains numerous artifacts like textiles, ceramics, glass and paintings that showcase the development of Muslim civilizations. Designed by an award winning architect, the museums building features a gorgeous design with a large theater, open courtyard, classrooms, exhibit galleries and even a park with lush landscaping. Exhibitions are temporary and display emerging Muslim themes, and new artistic developments.
The Open Studio is an art initiative that aims at the promotion of new talent, especially those involved in fine art prints. Their gallery is more like a studio space and warehouse for these artists, with the entire space bathed in natural light, making the artwork look even more stunning than it already is. Group tours of the entire facility are available, however one must call ahead and make a reservation for these tours. Several workshops and classes are also held at the studio from time to time.
Scugog Shores Historical Museum depicts the rich history and heritage of the island. The artifacts and exhibits that are on display here maintain and preserve the history while the aim here is to research and showcase the culture and natural history. The area has many restored buildings, churches and shops which tell a story of a bygone era. The museum also houses an archive and heritage center where people and researchers can know more about the rich history this place has to offer.
A modern art gallery in the quaint city of Scarborough, Scarborough Arts is a place where expression takes the form of paintings. Aimed at promoting, supporting and exhibiting modern art, and providing a platform for budding young artists, the gallery largely features works by local talent. Along with its regular exhibits, the gallery also organizes number of themed exhibitions, wherein a particular school of contemporary is displayed and discussed.
Located on the fourth floor of the Lipa Green Building in Toronto's north end, the Holocaust Education Centre is dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis before and during the World War. Through audio-visual presentations, exhibits, an on-site resource library and actually meeting Holocaust survivors, visitors can learn about the horrors that European Jews underwent as well as the strength and resilience they showed under the direst circumstances.
The Hockey Hall of Fame is the place where you can test your hockey trivia skills or goalie reflexes. The hall, located in Brookfield Place, features an interactive, hands-on account of the evolution of Canada's game. It's a trip down the sport's memory lane, fueled by displays, trophies, memorabilia, movies and video games. While you're there, you can get a souvenir photo taken of yourself beside the Stanley Cup trophy. Facilities include the Spirit of Hockey store full of collectibles.