Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

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About us

Step back in time to the 1920s and 1930s while exploring an historic village just a 30-minute drive outside Ottawa's downtown core. See dozens of heritage buildings and true-to-era reproductions. Find a quiet escape or join us for a special event. The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum offers unique opportunities to create unforgettable moments for visitors of all ages. 

Hours and admission

Hours of operation

Please note that the museum is closed for the general admission season and will reopen to daily visitors in May 2025. 

Programs and special events are offered year-round. Follow Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on Facebook or subscribe to the “At your museum” eNewsletter for updates.

Vintage Village of Lights

November 29 through December 22, 2024 
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm
Advance registration is required

Winter Stroll

December 27 through December 30, 2024
5 pm to 9 pm
Admission by donation 

Vintage Village of Lights

Vintage Village of Lights 

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm (final entry by 8 pm)
November 29 through December 22, 2024 
Cost: $26.14 per group, taxes included (up to six people per group; children under two are not counted toward the maximum group size).
Advance registration is required. Reminder! Only one registration ($26.14 taxes included) is required if your group includes six (6) or fewer people.

Make memories to treasure at the Vintage Village of Lights. Enjoy a postcard-perfect 1920s and 30s heritage village charmingly decorated for the holidays. Explore festive vignettes and light displays, visit with Santa, decorate gingerbread cookies, take in seasonal heritage demonstrations, and more. Fun for family and friends of all ages. Please review the notes below to help plan your visit.

Notes

  • Each registration ($26.14 taxes included) includes entry to the Vintage Village of Lights for up to six visitors. If the address associated with your Register Ottawa account is located outside Ottawa, the non-resident registration fee is $32.68 per group. Registration must be completed by 3 pm on the day of entry. 
  • Children under two years of age are not counted toward the 6 person per group maximum. During the registration process, you do not need to include children under two when indicating how many visitors are a part of your group.
  • This event includes both indoor and outdoor activities. Please dress appropriately for weather conditions, including wind chill. 
  • There is no public transit to the museum. Free parking is available on site.
  • Your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. The event runs as scheduled in most weather conditions. Your registration will be honoured for the date and entry timeslot you selected at the time of booking. 
  • The main pathways at the museum are packed gravel. Most buildings used for activities and demonstrations have ramp access, however, ramp access may not be available at every entry/exit point. Staff are happy to direct you to the nearest accessible entry or exit. Please note that because our heritage buildings were built to the standards of their time, a limited number of spaces may not be accessible to all.
  • Information about accessibility can be found on the museum’s webpage. If you have questions regarding accessibility, please contact 613-580-2988 or museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca.
  • In the rare event an evening is cancelled due to extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances, updates will be published to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Facebook page and all registered visitors will be contacted by email with further information.

Winter Stroll

Winter Stroll

December 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 5 pm to 9 pm
Admission by donation (cash, credit, debit)

Community members are invited to enjoy the peaceful ambiance and festive light displays at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. The museum grounds will be open with admission by donation from December 27 to 30 (5 pm to 9 pm). This outing is perfect for visitors looking to enjoy the museum’s outdoor holiday decorations and cleared gravel pathways in a quieter, more relaxed environment. The canteen will also be open and offering warm drinks and snacks for purchase.

Note:

  • The Vintage Village of Lights closes for the season on Sunday, December 22. Activities and demonstrations associated with the Vintage Village of Lights, including visits with Santa and cookie decorating, will not be offered during Winter Stroll.
  • During Winter Stroll (December 27, 28, 29 and 30) all museum buildings will be closed, apart from the Train Station lobby and washrooms. Winter Stroll offers a self-guided experience and includes outdoor access to the museum grounds only.

Coming soon! Tales from the Village

Tales from the Village

March 22-23, 2025
Ages 14 and up
Stay tuned for details. Registration will open in January 2025.

Step back in time and explore a 1920s and 30s village with a museum interpreter as your host. As you step inside each heritage building on the tour, actors from Vintage Stock Theatre will bring local tall tales and folk stories to life. A perfect way to spend a cozy winter day with friends and family! Light refreshments will be served. 

Notes

School programs

Plan your next school field trip to Cumberland Heritage Village Museum! Travel 100 years back in time and discover daily life in a rural Eastern Ontario community. Explore the 1920s and 30s village using a curriculum-based aid, visit with farm animals, enjoy a tractor-pulled wagon ride, see a heritage trade demonstration, and take part in a history-inspired race. 

Optional grade-specific activities are offered for students from kindergarten to grade six. Programming is offered in both English and French.  

For more information and to request a booking form, please contact the museum by email.  

Contact information 
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum 
2940 Old Montreal Road 
Email: museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca 
Phone: 613-580-2988, ext. 40952 

Collections and permanent exhibitions

Representing a fascinating period in our history - the 1920s and 1930s - the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum's collection represents the social, cultural, technological, and economic changes of the era between the First and Second World Wars. Textiles, mass communication devices, agricultural equipment, recreational items, and furnishings are just a few examples of the more than 19,000 objects in our care in this collection, with many of them on site as part of the museum's immersive exhibition experience.

Permanent exhibition

Nestled next to fields of hay, corn, and barley, the entire museum is an immersive exhibition that tells the story of rural life as new technologies, transportation, and cultural trends were emerging. As you stroll through the village and explore its many buildings and spaces, you and your family will learn the stories of a fascinating part of history and see thousands of historic objects, machinery, and equipment that may seem in some ways so different from today, and in other ways very much the same.

Our volunteers

The City of Ottawa Museums are committed to offering residents meaningful and rewarding volunteer experiences.

Heritage volunteers play an invaluable role in preserving our unique heritage and in providing museum visitors of all ages with opportunities to appreciate our shared story.

Thank you to all our volunteer team members for their continued support.

The museums are not currently accepting new volunteers. If you have any questions about the volunteer program or would like to be notified when volunteering resumes, please contact MuseeCumberlandMuseum@ottawa.ca.

Rentals

A vintage rural setting with dozens of historic and true-to-era buildings, acres of greenspace, and gardens provide a nostalgic and picturesque backdrop for your special events.

For more information, please contact our Customer Service Booking Clerk. Call 613-580-2988 or email museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca.

Accessibility

Work with us to shape your experience. Contact the museum before your visit to discuss your needs. Information about the accessibility of the facility, or our programs and services, is available upon request.

The accessibility features of this facility are detailed below. While the City of Ottawa is constantly working to improve access, please note that not all parts of every facility are necessarily 'accessible for all' as facilities were built to meet accessibility standards of their time.

  • Parking
    • 4 designated parking spaces
    • Accessible path of travel from the parking lot to entrance
    • 22 metres from parking space to the door
  • Entrance/Exit
    • Ramp
    • Direct access to the main floor and admissions.
  • Interior
    • Ramps in 16 of 20 buildings
    • Automatic door access to Train Station and Canteen
    • Wheelchair available to patrons
  • Reception desks
    • Accessible counters
    • Floor area for maneuvering a wheelchair
  • Signage
    • Directional signs
    • High contrast signage
    • Large lettering
  • Floor Surfaces
    • Slip resistant surfaces
    • Low pile carpet, Wooden floor boards and G-floor covering
  • Washrooms
    • Accessible washroom (Canteen)
    • Automatic door opener
    • Lowered sink counters
    • Large stalls to allow transfers
  • Stairs
    • Good colour contrast (Train Station)
    • Continuous hand rails (Train Station & Duford House)
  • Museums/Galleries/Archives
    • 14 exhibitions spaces are accessible

Learn more about special needs and accessible services.