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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:
How we Kept Mother's Day
May 3 until October 31, 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 tells 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.
From War to Wonders: Mapping Escapism in a Time of Turmoil
March 2 until December 20, 2024 - Temporary Exhibit
Extended until December 20, 2024 -- Ever wonder where fantastic novel ideas come from? Often, ideas inside fantasy novels are not so far-fetched after all. While some read to immerse themselves into new worlds, others write about them -- though sometimes it is difficult to avoid real life from impacting the stories. Escape into the Leacock Museum's upcoming exhibit, From War to Wonders: Mapping Escapism in a Time of Turmoil, to learn how some of the most popular fantasy novels were impacted by the First and Second World Wars.
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.
75 Years of Laughs: Reminiscing the Leacock Medal for Humour
September 21, 2022 - Permanent Exhibit
Learn about Farley Mowat's secret office and some of the items that may have been inside.
Upcoming Exhibits:
Monster, She Wrote
Opening October 5 until December 20, 2024 - Temporary Exhibit
Based on the novel Monster, She Wrote: The Women who Pioneered Horror & Speculative Fiction written by Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson
*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.
Leacock and the Montreal Melon
Opening Soon! - 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 in 2024 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
Stay tuned for more exhibit announcements!
Past Exhibits:
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 |
February 10 until August 31, 2023 - Exhibit Completed Stephen Leacock's house in Orillia was a labour of love. He built it for his wife, Beatrix. Unfortunately, Beatrix did not live to see it completed. Something did survive though... Discovered during restoration inside Stephen's bedroom closet -- Beatrix's final letters. These letters, sent by Beatrix during her final days, were on display along with the romantic story. Learn about their love story and life together and why Beatrix was not simply, Stephen Leacock's wife. |
Entertaining Entertainers: Mary Pickford, Queen of the Silver Screen |
May 21 until October 28, 2022 - Exhibit completed This exhibit explored the friendship of Stephen Leacock and Mary Pickford as well as Pickford’s legendary silent film career.
“The Girl with the Golden Curls” was the first Canadian to win an Oscar, the first actress to make 1 million dollars a year, and the first person to be filmed in a close-up.
Guests of the exhibit were welcomed to vote on which of Leacock’s famous friends to focus on next; some of which include Charlie Chaplin, F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.M. Barrie!
The Leacock Museum thanks the Mary Pickford Foundation for their partnership on this exhibit.
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