The Museum of Lennox & Addington in Napanee serves as the primary hub for regional heritage, featuring permanent and travelling exhibits. This fully accessible Lennox and Addington museum offers extensive archives for genealogical research, interactive displays of local history, and monthly cultural programs, celebrating the diverse stories and artistic talents of the Napanee museum community.
The Museum of Lennox & Addington sits at 97 Thomas St E in Napanee and holds the collected history of the county under one roof. The archives alone house over 10,000 items and 13,000 images, covering everything from textiles and furniture to agricultural tools and family records. Researchers use it regularly, whether they are tracing a family tree or looking up a property deed, and the staff know the collection well enough to point you in the right direction. The museum also runs a PastPerfect online database, so you can search artifact and archival records from home before you visit. Between the permanent galleries, rotating exhibits from local artists, and monthly programming, the place stays active year-round.
What to Expect
Interactive heritage displays that cover the settlement and development of the county. The temporary exhibits rotate regularly, featuring local artists and travelling shows from national museums. The archives are staffed and available for anyone digging into property history or family genealogy.
Here’s What’s Different
- The archives contain more than 13,000 historical images of the region.
- The PastPerfect online database lets you search artifact records remotely before your visit.
- The museum operates as a working space for music, art, academic research, and community programming.
Good to KnowÂ
- The curators are available to help with research, and the Museum Store carries local gifts worth browsing. Many families come specifically for the children’s heritage programming.
- LOCAL TIP
- Check the “Know & Go” news feed for updates on guest exhibitions and evening events at the museum.
- FAST FACTS
- The archives hold more than 10,000 individual historical items.
- Virtual exhibits allow visitors to explore artifacts from home.
Location Details
Your Route
What We Offer
- Local Arts Programming: Temporary shows featuring the work of local artists, authors, and musicians, alongside travelling exhibits from national museums throughout the year.
- Themed Collections: Artifacts from the textile, furniture, domestic arts, tools, and equipment collections are rotated on a changing basis, with guest exhibitions presented throughout the year.
- Online Database: PastPerfect Lennox & Addington is a searchable online database documenting the artifacts and archival records that tell the history of the county, including textiles, agricultural implements, furniture, household wares, photographs, and maps.
- Virtual Exhibits: Curators across L&A’s museums offer detailed online interpretation of significant artifacts, with photographs and written sources for each item, made possible through support from the Government of Ontario and the County of Lennox & Addington.
- Genealogy & Research: An extensive genealogy collection with access to Ancestry.ca, along with research support and helpful links for anyone tracing their family history, whether just starting out or well into the work.
- Resources for Kids: Engaging activities and educational resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers.
- Museum Store: A curated selection of locally relevant gifts and publications worth a look before you leave.
- Monthly Events: Regular programming and seasonal events throughout the year. Check the museum’s news feed for what is coming up.
Common Questions
The anniversary season features special curated retrospectives on county history. Visit the official event calendar for current exhibition titles.
Hours and fees are subject to seasonal updates. Call 613-354-3027 for the most current visitor information.
Yes, the museum offers hands-on activities for kids during March break and the summer months.
You can start searching through the online database or visit in person for access to Ancestry.ca and professional research assistance.
Contacts
97 Thomas St E, Napanee
Have a question for the Museum? We’d be happy to help. Email Us
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Getting Here
97 Thomas St E, Napanee
The museum is a short walk from the downtown core.