The Stratford Perth Museum celebrates the rich and diverse communities of Perth County. The Museum draws inspiration from more than 20,000 artifacts, creating exhibits that bring the many worlds of Perth County alive.
Enjoy the naturally beautiful property that boasts a 1.5 km trail system, storm water pond and beehives that produce honey for the gift shop.
Ongoing Exhibits
Sharing An Adventure Exhibit
Take a journey with some unlikely heroes and examine timeless themes of power, corruption, friendship, and hope. Test your true courage and become a part of the exhibit through goblin riddles, a dragon photobooth, and vying for magic treasure!
We’ve Been Here
Thanks to a dynamic community curation team and the Stratford-Perth Archives, three new stories featuring the biographies of Black Perth County residents are on display in our Indoor Cooperator’s Theatre with a complementary online exhibit. These individuals and their families have attributed a lasting impact on the foundations of our region’s settlement through industrious economic acumen, while nurturing social resiliency for our diverse communities.
Creatures of Light
Featuring five local species that support our 5-acre ecosystem, this attraction is available to all visitors from dusk until dawn, 7 days a week at the Stratford Perth Museum. The audio content is online, which endeavours to celebrate Indigenous oral history and biodiversity by providing historical context of natural heritage and stories from our local leaders. We hope to empower our community members and Nations through their voices that embody both the monumental foundations of our identity and a renewal in traditional knowledge sharing.
Till The Curtains Rise
This exhibit will highlight the Royal Till marionettes and explore their revelling ‘life on the strings.’ Displays will also interpret the controversy behind vaudeville, addressing aspects of the entertainment culture that perpetuated racism, sexism, and a harboring animus towards marginalized communities.
Railway Century
Railway Century tells the story of Stratford as a railway hub and highlights the prosperity that Perth County’s extensive railway links brought to farmers and businesses in the region. The Locomotive Repair Shop, operated by the Grand Trunk Railway and the later the Canadian National Railway, was the driver of Stratford’s early economic development.
Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom
The Justin Bieber exhibit, Steps to Stardom, remains in place at the Stratford Perth Museum. The museum works closely with Bieber and his family members and continues to receive new items for the exhibit.
Hidden Qualities: Kroehler Manufacturing Company
For 70 years, Kroehlers Manufacturing was at the heart of Stratford’s furniture industry and among the world’s largest furniture companies.
Hear some first-hand accounts of local Kroehler’s employees, check out our Storying Resilience Podcast by Kelly McIntosh.
Who Was Tom Patterson?
This exhibit celebrates and documents the life of Tom Patterson, the founder of the Stratford Festival. Created to coincide with the opening of the new Tom Patterson Theatre and with Tom Patterson’s 100th birthday on June 11, 2020, it is now open since 2022.
The Car That Ran on Hot Air – The Brooks Steam Car
A steamy scandal surrounded the establishment of the Brooks Steam Motors Manufacturing plant in Stratford in the 1920s.
Perth UP: A Retrospective of Duty and Valour
This exhibit traces the history of the Perth Regiment from its inception in 1866 to its disbandment in 1965.
Fire, Fire, Fire!
This exhibit covers nearly 200 years of firefighting in our County along with a 100-year-old firetruck on display.
Heralding the Word
An exhibit dedicated to local newspapers like The Stratford Beacon Herald and 250-year-old printing presses that are still operable for programs.
Travel back in time, and back again, through almost 200 years of local history.
