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The Leacock Museum is a homestead museum dedicated to preserving the history of Stephen Leacock, his family and lifestyle on the shores of Lake Couchiching. The home preserves the style and elegance of the early 20th Century by showcasing original and era-appropriate furniture in most rooms. However, there is always something new to see at the Leacock Museum!
Your ticket includes access to all of the permanent & temporary exhibits on display (excluding "Boating old Brewery Bay" which is only available to view exclusively during the House and Grounds History Tour).
Follow us on social media to stay up to date on exhibits @leacockmuseum
Current Exhibits:
100 Years of the Great Gatsby
Open May 1, 2025 until August 2025
You've got that right, old sport! The Leacock Museum is hosting a real wingding to celebrate The Great Gatsby's 100th Anniversary since publication! In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald published the novel we all know and love today -- but at the time, it was not the success we know it to be. How did this novel gain popularity over the decades, and why?
On display, guests will find a letter hand-written from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Stephen Leacock, himself. This along with other fascinating treasures tell the tale of Gatsby. Find yourself in the midst of the roaring 20s at the Leacock Museum!
75 Years of Laughs: Reminiscing the Leacock Medal for Humour
September 21, 2022 - August 3, 2025
Learn about Farley Mowat's secret office and some of the items that may have been inside.
Hours and booking information
Monster, She Wrote
October 5, 2024 until October 31, 2025
Based on the novel Monster, She Wrote: The Women who Pioneered Horror & Speculative Fiction written by Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson
In collaboration with authors, Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson, the Leacock Museum presents "Monster, She Wrote" a temporary exhibit about horror novels through the centuries, written by women.
The Leacock Museum is proud to present this exhibit which has been prepared with participation from various local artists. The artists created pieces based on diverse stories, in diverse medias, to showcase their local artistry and bring the stories to life.
*This exhibit is on the 2nd floor which may cause barriers to mobility and access. For more information, please contact the museum at 705-325-2196.
Hours and booking information
Boating Old Brewery Bay
May 20, 2023 - Permanent Exhibit
*Please note that the boathouse will be available to view exclusively during the House and Grounds History Tour.
Upcoming Exhibits:
Leacock and the Montreal Melon
Opening Spring 2025! - Permanent Outdoor Living Exhibit
This might be one of the Leacock Museum's most exciting discoveries yet! In 2017, staff at the Leacock Museum found detailed notes inside a farming journal which showed that Stephen Leacock had been growing Montreal Melons all along while others assumed they were extinct.
Learn about why these melons were so coveted and why they cost as much as a steak! Exhibit will open on the Leacock grounds, and will be free to the public. In addition, the Leacock Museum grounds are getting a "historical" upgrade! Stay up to date on these updates and the release of the new outdoor exhibit through the museum's social media channels - @leacockmuseum
For the Love of Liquor
Opening July 12, 2025 - Permanent exhibit 
Stay tuned - more information to come!
Past Exhibits:
From War to Wonders: Mapping Escapism in a Time of Turmoil |
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March 2 until December 20, 2024 - Temporary Exhibit
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How We Kept Mother's Day |
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May 3 until December 11, 2024 - Temporary Mini-Exhibit
The tradition of celebrating Mother's Day began in 1908. In the early 1900s, Canadian author, Stephen Leacock, observed the idea with a funny short story about a family who takes advantage of the holiday by going fishing while they left their mother at home to enjoy her special day (after doing all of the cooking, cleaning, and preparation for the occasion, of course). Stephen Leacock's real-life mother, Agnes Butler Leacock, was a force to be reckoned with. Agnes's life told the tale of a strong, independent woman with a very interesting backstory. Agnes spent much time at the Leacock summer home at Old Brewery Bay during her life and even had her own room in the household. |
Decoding Anne Lister: History's First Modern Lesbian |
| Sept. 16 until June 30, 2024 - Temporary Exhibit
Extended until June 30, 2024 -- Reviled and hidden away for decades because of the stories they contained, Anne Lister’s diaries and her life are the focus of a fascinating exhibit at the Leacock Museum. Now famously known as "history’s first modern lesbian" and the focus of a popular TV show, Anne Lister meticulously captured the details of her life including love affairs, business deals, and politics in a partially encoded diary that scholars have worked for decades to transcribe. The exhibit will focus on the life of this revolutionary British lesbian while exploring themes of Canadian Queer history, the art of code breaking, and the world in which Anne Lister existed. *Please note that as of March 2024, this exhibit will be moved to the 2nd floor which may cause barriers to mobility and access. For more information, please contact the museum at 705-325-2196. *Anne Lister photo by permission of Shibden Hall. |
A Leacock Love Story |
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February 10 until August 31, 2023 - Exhibit Completed |
Entertaining Entertainers: Mary Pickford, Queen of the Silver Screen |
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May 21 until October 28, 2022 - Exhibit completed |
