Learn, discover and engage at Hamilton Civic Museums! A wide variety of programs are available for teachers and students, community groups and life-long learners across our network of museums. 

Explore everything from staff-led tours of our National Historic Sites to learning events like History in Action Day below. For those who can't make it out to our museums in person, we have a growing collection of learning resources and activities on this page.

In the 19th century servants were employed in large homes like Dundurn to do a variety of tasks such as cleaning, polishing and cooking. Assisted by Dundurn’s Cook Demonstrators, guests will work together to make a traditional recipe in our historic kitchen. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore with costumed staff over 40 rooms and discover the history of the MacNab family and the servants who lived and worked below stairs.

Dundurn also offers tailor made programming to suit the taste and needs of your group. Please call the museum and we will be happy to work with you to make your cooking experience a successful one.

Cost: $35 per person
Time: 2 hours - mornings only
TICO Certified Tour Operators: $35 per person
Further discounts available for Receptive Tour Operators, and series volume bookings.
Note: Minimum payment for 15 people required.

Dundurn Castle is built on the history of the War of 1812. Burlington Heights, where the Castle now stands, was occupied by the British military from 1813 until 1815. Your journey will begin at The Hamilton Military Museum to uncover the history surrounding the property. Discover evidence of military fortifications as the tour takes you outdoors through key areas in Dundurn Park including the rarely seen Cockpit building. The guided tour concludes with a look inside Dundurn Castle focusing on the 1812 architectural features that Sir Allan MacNab later incorporated into his home.


This tour contains outdoor components; please come dressed for the weather and prepared for walking on uneven terrain.

Cost: $30 per person
Time: 2 hours - mornings only
TICO Certified Tour Operators: $25 per person
Further discounts available for Receptive Tour Operators, and series volume bookings.
Note: Minimum payment for 15 people required.

Immerse your students in a military encampment during the War of 1812 featuring historical demonstrations, re-enactors, and Indigenous programming. 

Curriculum linked interactive activities are delivered at the site of the Battle of Stoney Creek, a turning point in the War of 1812. Recommended for grades 3 to 8.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES:
19th Century Skills and Trades
19th Century Food and Clothing
Indigenous Programming
19th Century Merchants and Pastimes
Loyalists and Early Settler Life
Life of a Soldier during the War of 1812
Military Drills and Discipline

Registration forms and additional information will be posted here when the sign-up period opens. This event regularly sells out, so be sure to book early!

Use this educator's resource guide to investigate the history of the Brightside Neighbourhood with your students. The exhibit explores this once-thriving worker's neighbourhood which lies under the current Stelco lands. Lessons and activities address notions of home, community, memory and geography.

This guide accompanies the exhibit "...and still I rise" African Canadian Workers in Ontario, 1900 – 2000, was designed by Natasha Henry and Adrienne Shadd in 2003 to meet the Ontario Curriculum expectations. The activities enable students to engage with ideas of community, work, discrimination, resistance, and justice still relevant today. 

The content focuses on Grades 8 and 10 History and include activities for younger students as well. While the emphasis is on Social Studies and History curriculum expectations, there are links to Language, The Arts, and Technology.

Learn more about climate change in our city and discover the many ways in which you can act to mitigate its impacts. This guide offers learning resources for teachers, students and families to deepen our understanding of the environment, climate change and stewardship.