Established in 1971 as a co-operative effort between the Town, Markham Historical Society and the Markham Lions Club, Markham Museum has been collecting and interpreting the area’s history for almost 30 years.  The 25-acre site combines both a heritage village and modern exhibit buildings to offer visitors a broad range of interactive activities to explore Markham’s past.  

Visit Markham Museum's website!

Special Features of the Museum include:

·      Land Transportation exhibit housed in a replica of the Markham Carriage Works, featuring one of Ontario’s finest carriage collections;

·      Agricultural Implement Exhibit;

·      17 Restored Heritage Buildings;

·      Town of Markham Archives;

·      Special exhibits;

·      Railway exhibit featuring a restored station and railway cars;

·      Guided Tours

·      Hands-on-house, a log cabin where visitors can handle artafacts;

 Map of the Markham Museum grounds  

 The former Mount Joy School, built 1907, home of  the Markham Museum research area and exhibits

Wilson Variety Hall

  Altona Cider Mill

 Hoover Mennonite Home

Built in 1936 by Canadian Pacific to replace another station which had burned to the ground, the Locust Hill station was one of the last rural stations ever built in the classic Canadian Railway Style. 

No longer required by the railway after the cessation of passenger service to Locust Hill in the 1970s, the Locust Hill station faced the threat of demolition.  It would have certainly been lost had it not been for the efforts of then Markham Museum Curator John Lunau, who spearheaded the drive to have the station relocated and preserved on the grounds of the Markham Museum in 1983. 

Fully restored to its original condition, the station is today the focal point of the Railway exhibit area of the Markham Museum.  Here it is complemented by such equipment as “Acadia”, a CNR official car built in 1921 and once used by such dignitaries as Princess Margaret;  a wooden C.P. caboose, built c.1940; CP rail snow plow (built in 1926) and a crossing signal (1932).  

Locust Hill Station, during relocation 1983

Markham Museum Railway Exhibit

The Unionvillle Railway Station, was built in 1871 by the Toronto and Nipissing Railway company (Later Grand Trunk and CN).  Originally, the line from Toronto to Cobobconk was laid with narrow gauge 3’-6” track. 

The coming of the railway had a significant effect on the development of the community of Unionville, with much of the grain and other produce which previously was taken by horse team to Toronto diverted to the Unionville Station.  

After years of neglect and a disastrous fire, the Unionville station faced the threat of demolition until acquired by the Town in 1989, when it was restored to its original condition for use a community centre.

In addition to the station, the Town also acquired the adjacent Stiver Mill, which is proposed to be restored by a private entrepreneur as part of a commercial development.

Unionville Station, photographed c.1900

Unionville Station in 1977, prior to restoration

As a Millennium project, the Town of Markham has purchased the former Markham Village Railway Station and in conjunction with the Markham Village Conservancy, are undertaking its restoration for use as a GO transit commuter rail station and community centre.  The project is supported by Federal and local Millennium funding programs, as well as community fund-raising.

Vacant for over a decade, the Markham Train Station was on the verge of demolition by the railway, until the restoration campaign began

Representatives from the Markham Village Conservancy, the Town of Markham and other levels of government at the beginning of the S.O.S. campaign

Now safely on a new foundation, the station restoration is on track for completion by the end of 2000