Welcome to Dufferin County Museum and Archives
Click here for Hours and Admission Rates
Click here for
How to find us
Click here for
Contact information
Museum Facts
The Dufferin County Museum and Archives strives to collect,
preserve, and interpret the history of Dufferin County. Opened to the public in October,
1994, the DCMA is unique among Canadian community museums. Built in the style of an
Ontario bank barn, the museum's striking architecture reflects the agricultural heritage
of this central Ontario region.
In the tradition of an old-style barn-raising, where the community pitched in to help
build a neighbour's barn, members of the Dufferin County community have supported the
DCMA's development and ongoing operation.
(Left) Dufferin's most celebrated barn-raising, 1994.
The establishment of the DCMA was achieved through the financial
support of the County of Dufferin, the governments of Ontario and Canada, as well as
individual donors and volunteers in our community.
Take a
look inside - click here to take a
VIRTUAL TOUR of the DCMA. Exhibits change from
time to time. 
The DCMA collects artifacts and archival material that relates to the
historical development of Dufferin County. Our collection includes thousands of archival
documents and artifacts--including Canadian glass and ceramics (notably, Corn Flower cut
glassware), furniture, wagons, machinery, agricultural implements, clothing, quilts,
archival documents, and photographs.
The DCMA is located approximately 100 km north of Toronto, at the corner
of Airport Road and Highway #89, between the towns of Shelburne and Alliston.
The museum's
hillside site features heritage gardens with a rich variety of plants, trees, and flowers,
all of which were native to this region ca. 1900.
The property also showcases samples of crop varieties traditionally
harvested in Dufferin County, as well as an apple orchard and an herb garden.
The DCMA itself comprises over 25,000 square feet, on four floors of
exhibit and storage space. 
Three heritage buildings are situated inside the DCMA's spacious main
gallery; the Rich Hill Orange Lodge Building, ca. 1861 (left), a pioneer log home, ca.
1850, and Crombie's Station, a Toronto, Grey and Bruce train flagging station, 1882.
These buildings were originally preserved by the Dufferin County
Historical Society in the 1960s. At that time, they were situated in Hyland Park in
Shelburne, Ontario. They were moved to the DCMA's site in 1993 and re-assembled inside the
museum. 
Rich Hill Orange Lodge, constructed of tamarack logs in 1861, was
originally located in Amaranth township. The hall was donated by the Spence family with
one restriction--that no alcohol could be consumed on the premises. The structure
was moved to the Shelburne Musuem site in 1966. The hall was dismantled and reassembled
here in the Museum in 1993. The Lodge now hosts changing exhibits, meetings, and art
shows.
The McCutcheon Replica House at the DCMA (right) is a one and one-half
storey log home, constructed with logs dating from 1851. The interior of the house is
appointed and furnished with artifacts from the DCMA Collection to reflect the
period of the County of Dufferin's incorporation in 1881.
The original McCutcheon House was donated by the family to the Dufferin
County Historical Society in the early 1960s, and became the Shelburne Pioneer Museum.
In 1992, the Shelburne Pioneer Museum's McCutcheon house was lost to
fire, along with the bulk of the collection.
Left: the kitchen of the McCutcheon House.
Built in 1882 by the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway, Crombie's
Station was originally located just north and west of the intersection of the 3rd Line and
20 Sideroad of Amaranth township. Users would have to wave a green and white flag in order
for the train to make a stop. The whole structure was moved to the Shelburne Museum site
in 1969, and was moved to the current museum in 1993. The station's interior colour scheme
dates back to 1926.
The museum's
third floor is a mezzanine exhibit gallery or "hayloft", which overlooks the main
gallery space. The mezzanine gallery features changing and travelling exhibitions.
The DCMA includes many unique fixtures and details which have special
meaning in the Dufferin community.
The unique ironwork spiral staircase leading from the main gallery to
the mezzanine comes from the Orangeville Jail, ca. 1880. The grillwork railing along the
mezzanine came from Trinity United Church in Grand Valley, which was destroyed in the
tornado of 1985.
The Archives, Large Artifact Storage Room, long gallery, and staff
offices are located on the museum's first floor.
The Archives Reading Room features microfilm readers, printers, and
desk space for researchers. The Reading Room also showcases changing displays in beautiful
antique cases, formerly of Morrow's Jewellery Store in Orangeville, ca. 1880.
The first floor's Large Artifact Storage Room is accessible to
visitors. This area, which stores such items as wagons, sleighs, and furniture, allows
visitors to view artifacts which are not currently on display in the DCMA's exhibit
galleries.
In the long gallery hallway of the first floor, visitors may enjoy
changing displays of artwork and photographs. Also located in this area of the first floor
are the DCMA staff offices. Staff and volunteer workrooms have large windows, so that
visitors may observe the "behind the scenes" work going on at the museum, and
meet our staff and volunteers.
The DCMA's silo
functions as an art gallery space, and features the work of talented local artists. The
silo also contains a spiral staircase and an elevator, which lead visitors to all four
floors of the museum.
From the top floor of the silo, enjoy the magnificent 360-degree view
of the beautiful Mulmur hills and the Niagara Escarpment.
The vibrant stained glass windows installed in the DCMA's main gallery
came from Riverview United Church in Melancthon township, which was demolished in 1992.
The DCMA gift shop, located near the front entrance, stocks
unique new and used books, DCMA souvenirs, clothing and postcards, as well as dozens of
handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items produced by local artists and artisans. Through a
partnership with North of 89 Artists, arts and crafts offered in the gift shop include
two-dimensional works in a variety of media, pottery, wooden bowls, handwoven garments and
much more. Your purchase supports local artists and the DCMA.
Enjoy one of Ontario's best community museums...
Plan a visit to the Dufferin County Museum and Archives
For more information, please contact us at
info@dufferinmuseum.com