Museum Exhibits
The Suitcase Project
On view Sept. 28, 2024 – Jan. 11, 2025
The Suitcase Project is a travelling exhibition from the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre.
In 1942, more than 23,000 Japanese Canadians living on the west coast were uprooted from their homes and placed in internment camps.
In this impactful exhibition, over 80 fourth- and fifth-generation Japanese Canadians and Americans share what they would pack if forcibly removed from their homes today. They were given one day to assemble their things, similar to what many Japanese Canadians faced in 1942.
“The idea wasn’t just about what people would pack, but also what they are forced to leave behind.” — Photographer Kayla Isomura, on why the history of internment camps in Canada is relevant today.
Physics Matters: An Interactive Science Exhibit
Coming soon: Jan. 18, 2025 – Summer 2025
Discover the science that shapes our everyday lives with an engaging exhibit all about physics!
Explore topics including matter, force, motion, light, sound, structures and simple machines through diagrams, interactive components and hands-on activities.
This exhibit supports the Ontario Science and Technology curriculum for Grades 3 to 5. To book a program for your class or group, visit our School Programs page.
Main Galleries
The History of Woodstock
This 1,200 square foot gallery space features over 400 artifacts and 125 Images. Explore Woodstock's rich history through artifacts, photos and stories as you move through the space.
Council Chambers
Prior to changing locations, Woodstock's city hall was located in the present-day site of the Woodstock Museum NHS. City council met on the first floor in the council chambers. In 1980, the entire old city hall was refurbished back to its original state. The council chambers looks the same way it did when the building was constructed in 1879.
Micro-Exhibits
Barber Shop Display
Les McKerral owned several prominent barber shops in Woodstock throughout his lengthy career. His third and final barbershop was once considered one of the foremost barber shops in western Ontario. This micro-exhibit features one of the chairs from the barbershop, complete with tools, awards that belonged to Les, and accessories. It's just like a walk into the past!
Brick by Brick: The Heritage Architecture of Woodstock
Discover Woodstock's heritage architecture and learn more about the history behind some of the city's oldest buildings. This micro-exhibit includes historic and present-day photographs of buildings located in downtown Woodstock, as well as architectural information and terms.
Great Murder Trial Case
The Great Murder Trial took place in the Museum's Grand Hall and was considered the greatest murder trial of the 1890s. This micro-exhibit tells the complete story of the case and features artifacts from the trial.
Woodstock Firefighting Display
This micro-exhibit is built around a 1920 hand-drawn fire cart that was used at Oxford Regional Centre. The exhibit also contains other early firefighting equipment used in Woodstock, as well as a collection of fire safety posters.
Captured Under Glass
In the early years of photography, making an image was painstaking work. One of the earliest photographic processes was to capture a negative image through a camera on a chemical treated glass plate, which in turn was used to develop a paper positive print. This micro-exhibit features reproductions of glass plate photographs from Woodstock's history.