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This 1½-hour tour will recount the history and restoration of this National Historic Site of Canada. You will see the original and new lobbies, a backstage exhibit housing the Winter Garden’s original Simplex Silent Film Projector, a dressing room containing artifacts from the time period, and samples from the world’s largest collection of vaudeville scenery.
This is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Toronto and is one of the few examples of Georgian architecture in Toronto. In 1972 it was under threat of demolition and a campaign started to save the house. It was at this time that it was moved to current location, restored and opened as a museum.
This building, built in 1931 by the Canadian Life Insurance Company, is one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in Toronto. The building is perhaps best known for its weather beacon, installed on August 9, 1951. The beacon shines red for rain, white for snow, and lights running up or down it indicate a change in temperature. Normally, the building is closed to the public; however, its 17th-floor observation deck is usually featured during the annual Doors Open event.
Mackenzie House, built in 1830, was the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, the city's first mayor. Mackenzie lived here from 1835 to 1837. Today the house has period furnishings and there is an exhibit of many 19th century printing presses in a nice mock-up of an old printing office. (Mackenzie was editor of his own newspaper, The Constitution.) Mackenzie abandoned the house after participating in a failed rebellion in 1837.
Gloucester Mews
This very attractive 5-storey, Victorian-era building was built in 1888 as a Masonic Hall. The building has a distinctive tower-like fifth floor with a peaked-cap roof.
York County Court House
This landmark, built in the Romanesque Revival style and completed in 1899, has a distinctive clock tower which can be seen along Bay St from Front Street. The architect was E. J. Lennox who also designed Casa Loma. Old City Hall was home to Toronto's city council from 1899 to 1966. The building is a National Historic Site of Canada, and served as the York County Court House until 2021. It is awaiting a new use.
This beautiful building was built in 1832 to house the Law Society of Upper Canada. It now houses the Ontario Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of Justice in addition to the Law Society. The building is open to the public; call ahead to arrange a tour.