Explore 800 years of settlement in Scarborough - from a long-lost Iroquoian village, through the community that developed around the original Thomson farm to the suburban explosion after World War II.

In the 1800s, the area around Albion Road and Islington Ave was the site of a farming village called Thistletown. Discover the gems of an earlier time - 19th century farm buildings, early 20th century country homes, the first public park in Etobicoke and Toronto's last working farm - that lie hidden amongst the suburbs and strip malls of North Etobicoke.

NEW!

Trace the history of this vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood with stops at old aboriginal trails and encampments, sites of pioneer settlements and country estates, and buildings and services created during the development boom of the early 1900s. Includes a tour of the restored murals at Dufferin/St. Clair Branch, Toronto Public Library. 

A centre of industry and commerce linked to the Dundas Highway and the junction of several railway lines, this prosperous little town voted to ban the sale of alcohol in 1904. Find out why - and hear other stories of "the Junction" - on this tour along Dundas Street West.

Now lined with quiet parks and recreation facilities, the waterfront around Humber Bay was once home to dance halls, Sunnyside Amusement Park, and a wooden boardwalk where the annual "Easter Parade" was held. Hear about this area's fascinating past on this walk along the shore east of the Humber River.

Discover Agincourt Village, an early 20th century transportation and commercial hub, that has survived among the suburbs built after World War II in northern Scarborough.

Explore Davenport Hill during one of its times of transition; from a neighbourhood of grand estates to an era of suburban development. In the 1920s, Lady Eaton moved out of Ardwold, her city home, an orchestra played at the Casa Loma Hotel, the Austins of Spadina helped lead Toronto's New Symphony Orchestra and Ernest Hemingway typed articles for The Toronto Star at his home nearby.

This prestigious neighbourhood was named after the estate of Sheriff William Botsford Jarvis and his wife Mary Powell, members of Toronto's early 19th century elite. Set amongst wooded ravines, the area developed slowly due to its isolation from the city and to various economic downturns. As a result, it boasts buildings representing a variety of 19th and 20th century architectural styles.

Explore the neighbourhood around Eglinton Park, formerly the Pears brickyard - from the site of John Montgomery's house to the site of his infamous tavern, the headquarters of the 1837 Rebellion. It's a walk through time from forested farm lot, to growing village, to the heart of the city at ‘Yonge and Eligible.'

Explore the history of Downsview and its transformation from a military base into one of Canada's unique urban parks. Learn about the natural features of the Park and visit some of the historic buildings that have been refurbished for modern use.

Before the suburban lawns and high-rises sprouted in North York, there was rural Willow Dale. Walk the former farmland of residents like David Gibson, a 19th century farmer, surveyor and one of the leaders of the 1837 Rebellion. See some of the buildings and sites of this one-time village, as well as the public art that commemorates an earlier era.

In the early 1880s, the developers of Beaconsfield Village created a middle-class community that was inspired by the ‘street-car suburbs' that were common in the United States. We'll examine the role of developers, architects and builders in creating this unusual Victorian community.

NEW!

Explore the shore of Lake Ontario between the Humber River and Mimico Creek in southern Etobicoke and discover how it has changed over the last hundred years. Once the site of resorts and boat builders, by the mid-20th century the area was better known for summer cabins and road houses. More recently, an infamous motel strip has been replaced by lofty condos which overlook beautiful parkland.

Explore Toronto's astronomical heritage, from 1840 to the present. Hear about the people and organizations who have contributed to the development of astronomy in Toronto, an international centre for astronomical research and education, on this stroll around the University of Toronto area.

In the mid 1800s, gardener George Leslie began a plant nursery business near the shores of Ashbridges Bay. Hear about his contribution to Toronto's forest and gardens as well as stories of some of the other residents and businesses of this one-time postal village.

Explore Davenport Hill during one of its times of transition; from a neighbourhood of grand estates to an era of suburban development. In the 1920s, Lady Eaton moved out of Ardwold, her city home, an orchestra played at the Casa Loma Hotel, the Austins of Spadina helped lead Toronto's New Symphony Orchestra and Ernest Hemingway typed articles for The Toronto Star at his home nearby.

Explore the evolution and history of Fort York and the nearby Lake Ontario shoreline from the early British colonial era to the present day. Free admission to Historic Fort York and free parking.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Fringe Festival in Toronto, a "must see" for theatre fans. Explore the history of some of the sites where Fringe plays have been presented, most of which were built for a purpose other than theatre.

When Moore Park was annexed to the City in 1912, it was a sparsely populated country retreat used by Torontonians seeking fresh air on the escarpment. Real estate developers could see its potential and in two decades, it evolved from fields and woodland to a fully developed suburb.

Explore the history of the area around the York Civic Centre in the former Township of York. Hear about the farms that survived into the 1950s, Depression-era activism, residents' reaction to World War I, and the 1910 air show up the road at the Trethewey Model Farm.

The Railway Lands around Union Station have undergone several dramatic transformations since 1853, when the first passenger train steamed out of Toronto. Explore Toronto's railway heritage, including the John Street Roundhouse and the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre.