Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

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. 

2940 Old Montreal Road 
Cumberland, ON K4C 1G3 

Tel.: 613-580-2988 
Email: museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca

Facebook: @CumberlandMuseum
Instagram: @CumberlandMuseum
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Hours of operation:

Vintage Village of Lights

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 24 through December 17, 2023
Hours of operation: 4 pm to 9 pm (with final entry at 8 pm)
Advance registration is required

The museum is closed for the season and will reopen to general admission visitors in May 2024. See “Special Programs and Events”, follow Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on Facebook, or subscribe to the “At Your Museum” eNewsletter for updates on programming all year, including: Halloween Hijinks, Makers at the Museum, Vintage Village of Lights, Hop Into Spring, and more!
 

Vintage Village of Lights

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 24 through December 17, 2023. 
Hours of operation: 4 pm to 9 pm (with final entry at 8 pm). 
Cost: $25.50, taxes included, per group (1 – 6 people per group)  

Advance registration is required. 

Make memories to treasure with family and friends of all ages at the Vintage Village of Lights. Step back in time and experience Christmas traditions of yesteryear. Enjoy the postcard-perfect scenery of a 1920s and 30s village on foot as you explore the festive light displays, seasonal decorations, and true-to-era buildings at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.  

Chat with the villagers and get an up-close look at carpentry, leatherwork, and blacksmith demonstrations. Join us for a song around the player piano then send a telegram to the North Pole. Decorate gingerbread cookies, warm up by the bon fire, or try your skills on the ball hockey rink. And your Vintage Village of Lights experience isn’t complete without a visit with Santa!  

How to register:

Visit Register Ottawa, search the activity name (Vintage Village of Lights), then select your preferred date and entry time.

Log in, select the person associated with your Register Ottawa account who will be completing the purchase on behalf of your group (this person must be present at the time of admission), indicate how many additional participants will be a part of your group, and complete payment.

• Each registration ($25.50) includes admission to the Vintage Village of Lights for a maximum of 6 participants. Note: If the address associated with your Register Ottawa account is located outside of Ottawa, non-resident fees will apply ($31.87).
• Children under two years of age are not counted toward the 6 participants per group maximum. During the registration process, you do not need to include children under two years of age when indicating how many participants are a part of your group.
• Registration must be completed by noon (12 pm) on the day of entry.
• Your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. The event runs as scheduled in most weather conditions and tickets are honoured for the original date they were booked. In the rare event an evening is cancelled due to extreme weather, updates will be published to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Facebook page and all registered participants will be contacted by email with further information regarding their options.

If you require assistance completing your registration, please email museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2988. We appreciate your patience while our staff process and return messages during this busy season. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below for further information to plan your visit to the museum for the Vintage Village of Lights.

Accessibility

• The main pathways at the museum are packed gravel.
• Four (4) designated accessible parking spaces are available in front of the train station.
• Due to the building standards of their time, a small number of our heritage buildings may not be accessible to all. Ramp access is available for most of the museum’s buildings, however, ramp access to buildings may not be available at every entry or exit point. Staff are happy to direct you to the nearest accessible entry or exit.
• Additional 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.

Admission

• Advance registration is required. Registration must be completed by noon (12 pm) on the day of entry.
• Each registration ($25.50) admits a maximum of 6 participants. You will be asked to indicate your total group size at the time of registration. Children under two years of age are not counted toward the 6 participants per group maximum; you do not need to include children under two years of age when indicating how many participants are a part of your group.
• If the address associated with your Register Ottawa account is located outside of Ottawa, non-resident fees will apply ($31.26 per group).
• The person who completed the registration under their name must be present at the time of entry.
• All group members (the participants associated with your registration) must enter the event together. If your group is arriving in separate vehicles, we kindly ask that you wait for your group members outside the train station as there is limited space in the admission area.
• Please take careful note of the date and entry timeslot for which you have registered. Your group may enter at any time during the hour window indicated on your registration (e.g., between 4 pm and 5 pm). 
• Your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. The event runs as scheduled in most weather conditions and tickets are honoured for the original date they were booked. In the rare event an evening is cancelled due to extreme weather, updates will be published to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Facebook page and all registered participants will be contacted by email with further information regarding their options.

Dogs

• On-leash dogs are permitted on the museum grounds but are not allowed inside the buildings (unless they are service animals or entering the grounds through the train station). We kindly ask that dog owners pick up after their pet and remain mindful of the other visitors, staff, and volunteers who are sharing the space.

Food and allergies

• Food and drinks are not permitted in the indoor exhibition spaces.
• There is outdoor seating available for visitors near the bonfire to enjoy food and beverages brought from home or purchased at the canteen.
• The canteen, located near the washrooms and bonfire, accepts cash, credit and debit for payment. Hot chocolate, apple cider, tea, coffee, water, and baked goods are available for purchase.
• Please note that the tap water in the washrooms is not suitable for drinking.
• All reasonable efforts are made to serve nut free products; however, we cannot guarantee a 100% nut free environment at the canteen or for the gingerbread cookie decorating activity. If you have food allergy concerns, please inform museum staff. If you require additional information regarding ingredients, contact museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca.

Gift shop

• The gift shop is located in Mainville (A.E. McKeen General Merchant). Hand-crafted items made at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum are available for purchase (while supplies last). Prices are as labelled. Cash, credit and debit are accepted as payment.  Purchases must be completed by 8:30 pm.

Hours of operation

• Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 24 through December 17 between the hours of 4 pm and 9 pm, with final entry at 8 pm.
• The Christmas lights are best enjoyed after 5 pm (dusk), however there are plenty of activities and demonstrations to enjoy if you arrive before this time.
• The average length of visit varies per group. We recommend planning for at least 90 minutes to complete your tour of the displays, demonstrations, and activities but you are welcome to stay longer.
• Saturday evenings usually have the largest crowds. If you are looking for a more relaxed experience, we suggest visiting on a Friday or Sunday, registering for an earlier entry time (i.e., 4 pm), or during the first week of operations (November 24, 25, 26).

Parking

• Free parking is available in front of the train station (where you will enter the museum) with overflow parking located in the west field (signage is posted).
• Four (4) designated accessible parking spaces are available in front of the train station.
• If your group is arriving in separate vehicles, we kindly ask that you wait for your group members outside the train station as there is limited space in the admission area.
• Parking is not permitted on the shoulder of Old Montreal Road.
• The museum is not serviced by public transportation.

Santa

• Santa is bilingual (English/French).
• Santa is happy to take photos with visitors. There is not a photographer provided on site; visitors are welcome to use their own camera or mobile device for photos.
• Please be respectful of instructions provided by staff.

Strollers and sleds

• Strollers and sleds are permitted. To reduce crowding in buildings, visitors may be asked to leave their stroller or sled outside. We recommend labelling your item for easy identification.

Smoking and alcohol

• Smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption are not permitted on museum grounds.

Wagon

• In a conscientious effort to keep the cost of this program as accessible to as many as possible, and in recognition of the challenge posed by often rapidly changing weather conditions, horse-drawn wagon rides are not currently offered as part of the Vintage Village of Lights. We thank you for your understanding.

Washrooms

• Washrooms are available at the rear of the site near the bonfire and picnic shelter. Portable toilets are also available at the front of the site near the train station.

Weather

• This event takes place both indoors and outdoors. However, visitors should be prepared to spend a significant part of their visit outdoors exploring the site.
• This event runs as scheduled in most weather conditions. Please check the weather and dress warmly. The museum grounds can be quite gusty, so keep the wind chill factor in mind. We recommend dressing in layers and wearing a hat, mittens, and winter boots. Snow suits may be appropriate for younger visitors.
• In the event of inclement weather that impacts operations, updates will be shared to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Facebook page. In the rare event an evening is cancelled due to extreme weather, all registered participants will be contacted by email with further information regarding their options.

Winter Solstice Stroll

December 20, 21, 22, and 23 from 4 pm to 9 pm
Admission is by donation.

Enjoy a quiet, self-guided stroll through the village grounds as you enjoy the backdrop of the museum’s heritage buildings, festive light displays, and seasonal decorations.

While the Vintage Village of Lights ends for the season on Sunday, December 17, the museum grounds will remain open (by donation) on the final Wednesday – Saturday evenings leading up to Christmas so community members can experience the peaceful ambiance and make use of the cleared gravel pathways at their own pace.

Please note: During the Winter Solstice Stroll dates (December 20, 21, 22, and 23) all museum buildings will be closed to visitors, except for entering through the train station. Activities and demonstrations associated with the Vintage Village of Lights will not be offered; this experience is self-guided and provides outdoor access to the museum grounds only.

Artefact collections

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.

Exhibits

Virtual Exhibition - Cabinet of Curiosities

Cabinets of curiosities displayed the strange and the scientific, the weird and the wonderful. Our team has gone through our collections and picked out the artefacts that appeal most to them to create our very own cabinet of curiosities. You can enjoy this exhibition from the comfort of your own home while learning the history of each artefact and why it stood out to our staff. Enter Cabinet of Curiosities here!

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.

Dairy in the Interwar Period (Taylor Barn)

This interactive exhibition examines how dairy farming made significant gains and continued to emerge as a major industry in eastern Ontario.  The shift in farming techniques, the movement towards creating products like cheese and butter allowing for year round income, and advancements in technology and legislation, allowed farmers to produce products for Ottawa and the surrounding areas. 

Train Station

The Vars Train Station, complete with a station master’s office, a passenger waiting room, and freight room, tells the story of rail and telegraph service just before the automobile and telephone became the dominant means of transportation and communication for rural residents.

Watson’s Garage 

Housing vintage vehicles, mechanic’s tools and commercial automotive supplies, Watson’s garage symbolizes the move towards advanced technology and a more mobile society during the interwar period. This single-storey building was originally built as a bicycle shop in 1925 and then converted to an Imperial Gas Station.

A.E. McKeen General Store

An essential service in a rural community, the general store tells the tale of how people shopped and the variety of goods available for purchase as the consumer culture wave began sweeping its way across Canada. On display you’ll find dry goods such as fabrics, notions, and gardening tools, as well as consumables like tinned goods, packaged tea, and candies available to rural communities in the 1920s and 30s.

Blacksmith Shop

Our resident blacksmith tells the story of the transition from handmade goods to mass production and the ever adapting craftsmen in the face of technological advance. See the blacksmith forging wrought iron and steel into items of all kinds. You’ll see bellows used to fan the coals of the fire and then the hammering of the red-hot iron on the anvil before the metal is cooled with water.

Sawmill and Shingle Mill                                      

Equipped with a diesel-powered engine, the fully operational sawmill is an example of local manufacturing industries unable to compete with factories of mass production.

Pump Factory

Housing equipment once used to make wooden water pumps for local farms, the pump factory is a unique example of rural ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Dupuis House

This tiny house, built circa 1820, stands in stark contrast to other buildings as a testament to how far rural communities had modernized by the end of the 1930’s. It is furnished as the modest shop of a seamstress at a time when manufactured, ready-to-wear clothes began overtaking the clothing industry. The oldest building on site, it’s associated with one of the area’s first settlers – François Dupuis.

Duford House

The Duford House symbolizes a home typical of rural farming families with limited means with a garage and vegetable garden. The home is modestly furnished throughout with evidence of the many children who once lived there. The log-frame construction is hidden with wood siding. The house evolved over time to accommodate a family of 14 at one point. Jean Baptiste Duford built this 1 ½ storey home in 1925; the smaller home incurred cheaper taxes than a full 2-storey structure.

School House

Unlike their city counterparts, rural children were taught in one-room school houses equipped with wood stoves and oil lamps during the interwar era.

Print Shop

Exhibiting various styles of printing presses, the print shop shows a profession under pressure as mass communication through print and radio distributed from urban centres found its way to rural communities during the 1920s and 1930s.

Foubert House

With its modern electric appliances, telephone and automobile garage, Foubert house (built circa 1915) represents a rural home on the brink of the modern age. The electric ice box and the stove contrast with the wood burning stove and the pressed tin ceilings.

Knox Church

A focal point of every village and town, rural churches held communities together through worship, charity and fellowship. They were the center of life’s celebrations, personal contemplation and remembrance.  Built in 1904 in the Gothic Revival tradition, the Church features decorative cornices, arched windows with stained glass, hand-painted stencilling, decorative wooden wainscoting, and an ornate coffered ceiling.

Fire Hall

Home to the village of Cumberland’s first fire truck (1938), the fire hall displays equipment and memorabilia relating to the evolution of fire fighting technology that made huge strides during the 1920’s and 1930’s.

*The Fire Hall is closed for the 2023 season for building maintenance and exhibition renewal. We plan to reopen the Fire Hall in 2024. Thank you!

Gardens

Heritage herbs and vegetables are grown on site.  In rural communities families still grew their own food in gardens beside their homes, preserving the produce for the remainder of the year despite the convenience of the emerging grocery stores and outdoor markets in the city.

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.

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.

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 manoeuvring 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.