Toronto museums for a rainy day
Rainy days and holidays are made for museum-hopping. But, before you make that automatic, umpteenth trip to the ROM, consider your other options. Each of these local museums offers a cultural experience that's uniquely Torontonian.
Canadian Broadcasting CorporationGeneralInformation
250 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3G5Love it or ignore it, it’s hard to deny how the CBC has linked Canadians across this vast swath of land. The broadcasting company began in 1936 as a radio service and expanded over the decades. Today, the Toronto museum dedicates a space to showcase network's growth and innovations since its inception. You can check out clips of TV shows that span the CBC’s history, re-live some of our country’s most important moments and get a sneak peek at upcoming shows.
Casa Loma
1 Austin Terr, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8There are few better places to spend a rainy day than Casa Loma, one of the most ornate residences ever built in Toronto and one that bankrupted its owner in the process. Once you’ve finished exploring the bowling alley and secret staircases, pop by the museum that Sir Henry Pellatt built in honour of his personal regiment, The Queen’s Own Rifles. He was not only a member but was knighted for his service.
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8It’ll take a bit of sleuthing to find this mini-museum, but channel your inner Sherlock Holmes until you find the fifth floor of the Toronto Reference Library. Once there, go back in time in the Arthur Conan Doyle Room which houses one of the best and most extensive collections of the mystery author’s famous works. Unlike most museums, here you can sit and read from the Holmes collection, including actual letters written by the author himself.
Hockey Hall Of Fame
30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8It’s not just the only hall of fame celebrating the big four pro leagues located in a major city, but it’s probably the only time you’ll see the Stanley Cup in Toronto (zing!). After you’ve posed with Lord Stanley’s mug and pondered the Leafs’ chances, watch a 3D movie, test your skills as a play-by-play commentator and try your best moves in the interactive exhibits. It’s not hard to break a sweat.
The Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7Chinese foot-binding is hard to fathom in theory but once you get up close to the tiny shoes, you’ll be amazed at the advancements in footwear through the centuries. Check out the shoes worn by some of the most famous people in history (John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe), and see how shoes were made before assembly line production came into existence. Open every day of the week, admission is comparable to a movie ticket.
Design Exchange
234 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5K 1B2The Toronto hotspot does double duty as a museum and event venue for some of the city's swankiest happenings. If you didn’t snag a ticket to the opera and wine auction, then take a stroll through the museum instead. You can see where the Toronto Stock Exchange used to be and journey back in time through exhibits showcasing the most impactful design, fashion and architecture of the past. There are also celebrity exhibitions curated by the likes of Jeanne Beker, Pharrell Williams and Christian Louboutin.
Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art
111 Queens Pk, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7Centrally located Bloor and University, this museum pays homage to everything ceramic. The permanent collections include Asian and the Middle Eastern items dating as far back as 11,000 years. The complex decorative items and tools offer a telling glimpse of the sophistication of those ancient peoples and culture. Drop in when they have special themed exhibitions or get hands on at the weekly drop-in clay class. If you go on Family Day, ceramic lessons are free with admission.
