Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

On this page

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. 

Hop into Spring

Hop into Spring

April 19 from 10 am to 4 pm (final entry by 3 pm)
Cost: $26.38 per group. Maximum of 6 people per group; children under 2 years of age are not counted toward the maximum group size.
Advance registration is required.

Spring has arrived and we’re hosting a day of fun, hands-on, family-friendly activities to celebrate the season’s arrival! Say hello to some baby animals with the Heritage Livestock Club of Eastern Ontario, help Henrietta Hen find her lost chicks (scavenger hunt), hop like a bunny or waddle like a duck as you challenge your friends and family to a race, get your face painted, meet a firefighter from Ottawa Fire Services, and more. You might even spot the Easter Bunny and collect a small treat or two along the way! Activities are best suited for children ages 3 to 8; younger or older siblings are also welcome to join the fun.

Notes:

  • Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • This program runs rain or shine and takes place both indoors and outdoors. Please check the forecast and dress for weather conditions, including proper footwear for wet, snowy, or muddy conditions.
  • All reasonable attempts will be made to ensure any candies or chocolate distributed as part of this program are nut free. However, we cannot guarantee a 100% nut free environment.
  • Visitors move between buildings using packed gravel pathways. Most buildings have accessible entrances, however, due to the building standards of their time, a small number of heritage buildings may not be accessible to all. Designated accessible parking spots are in front of the train station.
  • If you have event participation questions due to disability or have concerns regarding the accessibility of the event, please contact the museum by phone at 613-580-2988 or by email at museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca. Additional information about accessibility can be found on the museum web page.
  • Access to some buildings or exhibitions may be limited as we prepare for our summer operating season. Thank you for helping us reduce the impact of water, salt and mud on our heritage spaces!

Upcoming workshops

Upcoming workshops

Introduction to the art of box making

May 18 from 1 pm to 5 pm
Ages 16 and up
Cost: $77.21 + tax (per person)
Advance registration is required

Learn to make a beautiful and functional clamshell box—perfect for holding stationary, trinkets, or other special keepsakes. In this workshop you’ll measure, cut, fold, and line your clamshell box all while mastering different joining methods. The approximate interior dimensions of the box are 4" x 6" x 3/4". Using Davey board, decorative paper and other simple materials, you will express your personal style and develop key skills to confidently tackle future projects at home. This workshop is well suited to participants with some hobbyist crafting experience, but all skill levels are welcome. Supplies for this project are included in the cost of registration. Light refreshments will be served.

Notes:

  • The primary language of delivery for this program is English.
  • Advance registration is required. Workshops with insufficient registration may be cancelled. If an alternative cannot be offered, a refund will be issued.
  • Visit the Ottawa Hand in Hand web page for information on available financial supports to facilitate participation in recreation and culture programs.
  • Please check-in at the Train Station (adjacent to the parking lot) on arrival at the museum. The pathways between buildings are packed gravel.
  • If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact the museum by phone at 613-580-2988 or by email at museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca. Additional information about accessibility can be found on the museum web page.

Introduction to letterpress printing

May 31 from 1 pm to 5 pm
Ages 16 and up
Cost: $102.95 + tax (per person)
Advance registration is required

Discover the tactile beauty of letterpress printing in an introductory workshop that will guide you through the history, tools and techniques of the trade. You’ll learn how to set type, mix ink and operate a letterpress machine, to design and print bookmarks that reflect your unique style. This workshop is well suited for both beginners and hobbyists with an interest in traditional printing techniques. Supplies for this project are included in the cost of registration. Light refreshments will be served.

Notes:

  • The primary language of delivery for this program is English.
  • Advance registration is required. Workshops with insufficient registration may be cancelled. If an alternative cannot be offered, a refund will be issued.
  • Visit the Ottawa Hand in Hand web page for information on available financial supports to facilitate participation in recreation and culture programs.
  • Please check-in at the Train Station (adjacent to the parking lot) on arrival at the museum. The pathways between buildings are packed gravel.
  • If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact the museum by phone at 613-580-2988 or by email at museecumberlandmuseum@ottawa.ca. Additional information about accessibility can be found on the museum web page.

Alone in the Dark – The Haunted Walk

Alone in the Dark - The Haunted Walk

Various dates - February 8 to May 17
Ages 16 and up
Cost: $64.99 + tax (per person)
Tickets: Available online from The Haunted Walk.  Bookings must be made in advance.  

Step into the shadows at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum for one of the city’s most unique activities—a spine-tingling paranormal adventure! Get exclusive access to explore and investigate four heated heritage buildings, each steeped in history and chilling tales from the past.

Please note that this program is delivered by The Haunted Walk. For more information and to book tickets, please visit The Haunted Walk online. Contact: info@hauntedwalk.com.

Dates (program duration – 2 hours):
February 8, 14, 15, 22 at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm
March 1, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm
April 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 pm and 9 pm
May 2, 3, 9, 10, 16,17 at 8 pm and 9 pm

*Schedule subject to change.

School programs

Visit Ottawa’s own heritage village for your next school field trip. At Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, students will experience daily life in rural Eastern Ontario during the 1920s and 30s. Explore the village through interactive demonstrations and self-guided, curriculum-based activities. Enjoy a tractor-pulled wagon ride (weather dependent), reserved picnic seating for lunch, and a drink and snack for each student.  

Cost per student: $6.46 taxes included. A one to seven (1:7) adult to student ratio is required. There is no charge for adult chaperones.  

Availability: Mid-May to Thanksgiving. Heritage demonstrations, wagon rides, and canteen services are offered between 10 am and 3 pm. Visiting groups are welcome to use the grounds for self-guided activities between 10 am and 5 pm.

New! The online booking form will open soon.

Your health and safety

  1. Cumberland Heritage Village Museum is mainly an outdoor facility. This means that there is uneven ground consisting of grassy terrain, hard packed dirt or gravel pathways, and some exposed tree roots.
  2. It is important to dress for the weather. Extreme weather conditions might require the adjustment of activities, up to and including the cancellation of certain activities. For more information, please visit the Ottawa Public Health webpage on sun and hot weather.
  3. When visiting, it is possible that wasps, ticks, and other pests may be present. Please do not wander into long grass or under bushes. For more information, please visit the Ottawa Public Health webpage on ticks.
  4. The museum hosts heritage breed animals. For your safety and theirs, please do not touch or feed the animals.
  5. Do not eat any vegetables, herbs, apples, or berries found on site. Some are unsafe for consumption and can be difficult to identify.
  6. Please notify the museum of any allergy concerns prior to your visit.
  7. If a member of your group gets separated, they should inform the closest member of staff that they cannot find their group.

Other items to be aware of

  1. The heritage buildings on site were built to the standards of their time and some may not be accessible to all. If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, contact the museum.
  2. Please do not bring food or open drinks, other than water, into the buildings. Outdoor picnic areas are available.
  3. It is recommended not to drink water from the taps. The museum provides water coolers on site; please ensure everyone brings refillable water bottles.
  4. The host for your visit will be bilingual and all handouts and signage are available in both English and French. However, we cannot guarantee that all experiences will be delivered in both languages.
  5. Your host will greet you up to 5 minutes before your booking time. If you arrive before this time, please have the students wait on the bus and proceed to the train station (green and beige building by the parking lot) to inform the staff that you have arrived. Please note that the building may not be open before 10 am.
  6. If your group is larger than 120 students, please contact the museum before making your booking to ensure there is available capacity to accommodate your group.
  7. Be sure to fill out the booking form as completely as possible. This ensures that the museum is prepared to give you the best possible experience.

If you have any questions about the information on this page or about the visit, please contact the museum.

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.