During March Break, museums across the Kingston are opening their doors as part of the annual March of the Museums, taking place Monday, March 16 to Saturday, March 20. The event invites families to explore local history, science, and culture through family-friendly activities, crafts, and interactive exhibits at participating museums throughout the Limestone City.
At the Military Communications and Electronics Museum, located at CFB Kingston, visitors can explore the history of military communications technology and the people who operated it. The museum’s extensive collection includes everything from early field telephones and wireless radios to Cold War–era radar equipment and military vehicles.
Head over to the Canadian Museum of Health Care to learn more about the evolution of medicine and health care in Canada. Located in the historic Ann Baillie Building near Kingston General Hospital, the museum explores the evolution of nursing, surgery, and public health through artifacts, stories, and interactive exhibits. Visitors can learn about major medical discoveries and the individuals who helped shape the Canadian health-care system. They even have their own Iron Lung machine.
Down on Kingston’s waterfront, the PumpHouse Museum brings science and engineering history to life inside one of Canada’s oldest preserved waterworks. Built in the 1800s, the facility once used steam-powered pumps to supply clean drinking water to Kingston residents. Today, visitors can see the original pumping engines and explore exhibits on the history of water systems and engineering.
The Visitor Information Center (209 Ontario Street (VIC)) will be hosting events for the Murney Tower Museum, one of Kingston’s historic Martello towers. Built in the 1840s as part of the city’s coastal defenses, the limestone tower now houses exhibits on Kingston’s military past and the soldiers who once lived and worked there. Pop into the VIC and learn more about the only Martello tower in Canada that opens to the public in the summer.
Together, these museums highlight the diverse stories that have shaped Kingston—from military innovation and public health to engineering and defense. March of the Museums offers a unique opportunity to experience them all. Head to their website to learn more about their programming.
