Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00pm-4:00pm; Closed on Mondays, Good Friday, Canada Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Location: 900 Woodward Avenue, Hamilton ON, L8H 7N2
Access: Adults (18-59) $10.00, Seniors (60+)/Students (13-17) $8.50, Children (6-12) $6.00, Infants (5 and younger) Free, Families (2 adults & unlimited dependent children under 18) $27.50
Contact: museums@hamilton.ca
Telephone: 905-978-1443
Website: http://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-museum-steam-technology-national-historic-site
The Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology National Historic Site is located in the old Hamilton Waterworks. The Hamilton Waterworks was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1997 because it is an early, rare surviving example of a Victorian industrial building complex that is both architecturally and functionally largely intact. It was designed by Thomas Coltrin Keefer and built by the City of Hamilton in 1856-1859. Its purpose was to deliver large quantities of clean water for safe drinking and fire control to the rapidly expanding city. In subsequent years, the facility was upgraded to address the needs of the growing city. When the complex itself was replaced by a new waterworks on adjacent land in 1970, several buildings in the original group were demolished.
Today, this National Historic Site consists of five 1859 structures, its operating machinery and the grounds. The woodshed, boiler house, engine house and chimney are easily seen. The fifth structure is a partially buried stone water well. The buildings were designed to be impressive, with dressed stone walls, Romanesque windows and bell tower details on the chimney. The grand scale and detail of the complex reflects a civic pride characteristic of mid-19th century Hamilton. In addition to preserving the aesthetics of the Victorian industrial complex, the massive “walking beam” engines still work and are powered up every day allowing visitors the chance to see the pump in operation.
The Keefer Gallery, located in the boiler house is used as to display permanent and temporary exhibits which reflect the museum’s mandate to illustrate the history of waterworks and industry. Included in the exhibits are miniature engines and machinery which demonstrate historic developments in steam technology.
The Woodshed serves as an exhibition space depicting the social history of Hamilton.