The United Empire Loyalist Heritage Centre in Adolphustown preserves the site where the first Loyalists arrived in 1784. This 72-acre destination features a museum, burial grounds, and a campground on the scenic Adolphus Reach. It provides a dynamic memorial to founding families, offering research, education, and history & heritage interpretation.
The United Empire Loyalist Heritage Centre and Park is a non-profit preservation project operated by the Bay of Quinte Branch of the UELAC. It serves to protect the original 1784 landing site, the historic burial ground, and the town plan of Adolphustown. Beyond its Loyalist focus, the center also informs visitors about the ancient Cayuga presence in the region. This site is a primary location for families to connect with the foundational history within Loyalist Township.
What to Expect
A mix of history and outdoor recreation on the same property. The museum and research centre anchor the educational side, while the grounds offer a sandy beach for unsupervised swimming, play structures, and horseshoe pits. Children’s activities run through the museum in July and August. For those tracing Loyalist ancestry, the research centre is the place to start.
Here’s What’s Different
- The exact location where the first United Empire Loyalists landed in Ontario in 1784.
- A 72-acre campground on the same site where those founding families first set up tents.
- The centre also interprets the ancient Cayuga presence in the region, predating the Loyalist arrival.
Good to KnowÂ
- Children’s activities run through July and August at the museum. The property is a favourite for family outings, with the beach, play structures, and horseshoe pits keeping kids busy while parents explore the grounds.
- LOCAL TIP
- Walk the burial ground. Some of the oldest gravestones in the province are here, and reading the names and dates puts the rest of the site into perspective.
- FAST FACTS
- The first loyalists settled on the grounds in tents in 1784.
- The facility encompasses a sprawling 72-acre park and day-use area.
Your Route
What We Offer
Common Questions
The grounds typically open for the Victoria Day weekend in May. Check the website for museum-specific hours.
Yes, camping reservations for the east end campground can be managed through their official portal.
Commemorative events, reenactments, and social gatherings are held annually to mark the June 16, 1784, landing.
Yes, the on-site research centre is dedicated to helping individuals trace and document their Loyalist genealogy.
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Getting Here
54 Park Road in Adolphustown
Situated on the shores of the Bay of Quinte along the Loyalist Parkway.