Welcome to the Elgin County Museum! The Museum opened in its new facility on the fourth floor of the County Administration building at 450 Sunset Drive, in the fall of 2006. Many significant improvements to the Museum include climate-controlled storage areas, customized exhibit space, greater opportunities for public programming and the ability to provide outreach services to County museums.

Rural Retail:
Elgin County’s General Stores
March 13 to August 28

The general store, once of great importance to the rural community, has evolved over a long period of time often adding a post office or a gas bar as it wound its way into the 20th century. Early packaging, a gas pump and tin signs are part of this show which highlights surviving examples in the County and draws a parallel between the early general store and the big-box stores of today.

Jumbo: The Greatest Show on Earth
June 8 to August 28

Jumbo lives on in St. Thomas despite his tragic loss 125 years ago. See period posters, a model circus, and photographs and experience some of the pageantry of the travelling circus that entertained communities in the era before television and the movies. The show also includes artifacts from past anniversaries of Jumbo’s last visit to St. Thomas.

 

Clark McDougall: Barns
September 11 to November 27

Experience the rural landscape of Elgin County through the distinctive style of nationally significant local artist Clark McDougall (1921-1980). The show includes a large number of original works on loan from private collectors and the St.Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre plus photographs and barn-related artifacts from the Museum’s collection.

 

You can find more information at the What's Happening? section of the website.