If These Walls Could Talk

Every home has a story to tell. No matter the location or the income or origin of its residents, there are stories to be discovered in the traces buildings leave behind in the archival record. This exhibition from the Toronto Archives explores the unique stories of 11 homes from across Toronto, ranging from a Georgian house in the downtown core to a strip mall in the inner suburbs. Each property features a variety of archival resources used to plot key points on its timeline – the building blocks used to assemble the home’s history. 

Like today, previous generations of Torontonians have struggled to find housing. In this show, explore a wide range of housing types, including rental and coop housing, as well as an in-depth look at Toronto’s largest trailer park. The goal is for Torontonians to leave the exhibition curious about their own part of the city. The show provides access to 138 previously unscanned documents from the Toronto Archives Collection. This includes 1913 plans by Eden Smith & Sons and rare photographs documenting life inside Toronto trailer homes. The exhibition is inspired by the work of British Historian and Writer, David Olusoga and his BBC documentary series “A House Through Time.”

Every day the Toronto Archives helps people uncover the stories behind why the city looks the way it does. This show is their love letter to local history research.