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Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology National Historic Site

Visit the site of the 1859 Hamilton Waterworks complex

A Civil Engineering Landmark

The Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology preserves two massive steam-powered beam engines, which pumped water in Hamilton from 1859 to 1910, as well as a collection of artifacts relating Hamilton’s industrial past. The museum interprets Hamilton’s relationship with water, steam power, and industrialisation.

Guided tours, public programs, and special events are offered, including Train Days with the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers, Boats in the Park with the Confederation Marine Modellers as well as year-round STE(a)M workshops, field trips, group tours, and children’s activities.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Steam Museum

James McFarlane & the Hamilton Water Works

The 1850’s were a period of rapid growth and urbanization for Hamilton. Immigration was a key driver of this growth and many of the City’s new residents came to Canada from England, Scotland, Ireland and the United States. This included Scottish immigrant James McFarlane, Chief Engineer of the Hamilton Water Works, now the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology. McFarlane employed his ample education and exceptional skill in what was the first waterworks in Hamilton and the first plant of its kind in North America.

McFarlane contributed to the building of and operated Waterworks, keeping the City’s residents safe from water-borne diseases like cholera and supplying water for Hamilton's burgeoning industry. Learn more about McFarlane's life and contributions to the City in this video, part of the Stories of Migration and Belonging exhibtion.

Events at The Steam Museum

Selected upcoming events at the Steam Museum are featured below. For a full listing of events at all Hamilton Civic Museum sites, check out our Events page.

Current Month

Visit The Steam Museum

Contact & Site Info

Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology
900 Woodward Ave. Hamilton, Ontario L8H 7N2

Free parking available onsite 

Call 905-978-1443
Email [email protected]

Admission
AGE/GROUPRATE
Adult (18 to 59 years)$10.00
Senior (60+ years)$8.50
Student (13 to 17 years) with valid student ID$8.50
Child (6 to 12 years)$6.00
Infant (5 years or younger)FREE
Family (2 adults & dependent children under 18 years)     $27.50
Hours & Accessibility

Open year round
Tuesday - Sunday  from 12pm to 4 pm
Closed on Mondays, Good Friday, Canada Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

The Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology is partially accessible. Please call for more details.

 

Discover the Museum of Steam and Technology

Birthday Parties at the Steam Museum

All Aboard! Train Theme Birthday Party

A birthday party inspired by the museum’s famous “Golden Horseshoe Live Steamer Days”! This party theme includes:

  • A ride on a miniature train, courtesy of the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers (outdoors)
  • A tour of the museum, where children will learn about different types of steam engines, including the 1859 water-pumping engines in the historic Pumphouse
  • A train themed craft
  • A special train themed gift for the birthday child

Ages: 3 to 12

Available: May to October

Capacity: 40 guests

Duration: 2.5 hours

Facilities: Use of party room for one hour, includes tables, chairs and a small kitchenette

NUMBER OF PEOPLECOST
First 10 children$250 (minimum price per party)
Each additional child to a maximum of 25 children    $25
4 adultsFree
Each additional adult$8.00
Cool Catapults!

his birthday party theme encourages children to explore simple machines by constructing and testing miniature catapults. This party theme includes:

  • A miniature catapult craft for each child, instructed by one of our museum education staff
  • A tour of the museum to explore how simple machines were used to build and operate the 1859 Pumphouse

Ages: 3 to 12

Available: Year-round

Capacity: 40 guests

Duration: 2 hours

Facilities: Use of party room for one hour, includes tables, chairs and a small kitchenette

NUMBER OF PEOPLECOST
First 10 children$210 (minimum price per party)
Each additional child to a maximum of 25 children    $21
4 adultsFree
Each additional adult$8.00
Arts & Casts

If your child likes arts and crafts then this is the program for you! Children will:

  • Learn about the art of metal casting and create moulds and plaster castings of items they decorate and take home.
  • Take part in demonstrations and an interactive tour of how the steam engines were built and worked to create a new city.

Ages: 4 to 14

Available: Year-round

Capacity: 40 guests

Duration: 2 hours

Facilities: Use of party room for one hour, includes tables, chairs and a small kitchenette

NUMBER OF PEOPLECOST
First 10 children$210 (minimum price per party)
Each additional child to a maximum of 25 children     $21
4 adultsFree
Each additional adult$8.00
Radical Reactions

Our party room is turned into a chemistry lab, as birthday party guests will investigate reactions through a series of hands-on science experiments. Included in this party theme:

  •  Hands-on experiments with different materials, including baking soda/vinegar reactions and “Oobleck” demonstration, led by one of our museum education staff
  •   A tour of the museum to investigate how solids, liquids, and gases were used to run the 1859 Pumphouse

Ages: 5 to 14

Available: Year-round

Capacity: 40 guests

Duration: 2 hours

Facilities: Use of party room for one hour, includes tables, chairs and a small kitchenette

NUMBER OF PEOPLECOST
First 10 children$210 (minimum price per party)
Each additional child to a maximum of 25 children     $21
4 adultsFree
Each additional adult$8.00

Let's stay connected!

There are three ways to reach Hamilton Civic Museums

1. Sign up for “The Linc”, the Hamilton Civic Museums newsletter, to learn more about upcoming programs and events.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: City of Hamilton - Hamilton Civic Museums, 28 James Street North, 2nd Floor, Hamilton L8R 2K1, CA, http://www.hamilton.ca/museums. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the Unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

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3. Share a story of Hamilton’s history.

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