IIn September 9, 1961, the Port Carling Historical Society was born at the cottage of Marion Catto on the Indian River, and with it were planted the seeds of Mrs. Catto's dream to have a pioneer museum in Port Carling- a museum that would preserve the past history of the area, serve the community and provide a tourist attraction. The plans included a log cabin to display pioneer objects, a structure for the marine exhibits, with space for a room to house Victorian furnishings and a teepee for Indian artifacts.
By July 1963, the Historical Society was housed in the dining room of the old Algonquin Hotel on Joseph Street in Port Carling, with James Thompson as the first curator. Already plans were under way to have a museum built on Island Park as a centennial project and the village of Port Carling raised one third of the money needed, while the federal and provincial governments provided the remainder and promised yearly grants for the upkeep of the museum.
The Port Carling Museum was incorporated in October 1964. On July 2, 1967, Marion Catto cut the ribbon and declared the museum "open". Proudly displayed above the front entrance was a sign that Peggy Crowder's husband had made from an old barnboard he had found in Brackenrig. This sign still hangs in the Marine Room as a tribute to the volunteers who continue to give there time and enthusiasm to the museum.
Donations and loans of artifacts from descendants of the pioneers were soon pouring in and it was obvious that a further structure was needed to house them all. So in 1972 the Catto Wing was added and named in honour of Marion Catto and her husband, Lieut.-Col Catto, as an expression of gratitude for their generous support and aid throughout the stages of establishing the museum.
Other additions were added in 1976 and 1977 and then again in 1982 when the Hall Family Homestead was purchased from Alex Brown. The log cabin was painstakingly removed from its original site in Glen Orchard, and reconstructed on the island during the winter of 1983 by volunteer labour.
At this time an additional space was completed to serve as the Gift Shop. This space also connects the cabin to the main building. The log cabin was officially opened on July 14, 1984. In 1989 the Board of Directors of the museum passed a motion to change the name to Muskoka Lakes Museum. It was unanimously agreed that this name would better serve the area and reflect not just Port Carling, but all the communities on the Muskoka Lakes, for which the village serves as a hub in its unique and strategic position by the locks.
In the late 1990's the Museum made another
addition adding the collection storage and reorganizing the
exhibit spaces. The Gift Shop and lobby was moved from the
previous addition where it remains today. The previous lobby
area now serves as the Catto Gallery, where a full slate of
art shows will be exhibited this summer, starting in June.
As the 2008 season begins, the Muskoka Lakes
Museum begins its 44th season in Port Carling.
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