A Brief Overview of the Site and its History

The Marine Museum was founded in 1975. Located on 55 Ontario St. at the only federally built dry dock on the Great Lakes, the Marine Museum houses the original pumping station and steam engines built in 1891.  We also have on display a wide ranging collection of marine artefacts and exhibits, a significant fine art collection, and are home to the Gordon C. Shaw Study Centre, and Audrey Rushbrook Memorial Library.  Current exhibits highlight the growth of ship building and shipping technologies, the history of boat building, the life of the sailor, as well as regional Kingston's maritime history and our place on the Great Lakes.  The recently opened Eco Gallery focuses on environmental issues/successes related to the Great Lakes.

The Museum Ship Alexander Henry was built in 1959. A former buoy tender and light icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard, the Alexander Henry is a fine example of shipbuilding from the last century. With its twenty ton crane, block and tackle, hydraulic ram and other functional machinery, visiting students can learn first hand about this purpose built structure, and about ice breaking in Canadian waters. The ship is available for tours from May - October, weather permitting.

How to find us

To reach the Marine Museum:

From Highway 401: (east, west or north)

Take Exit # 623 south (Highway #15) off of Highway 401.

Continue south on Highway 15 for 3 kilometres, to the stop light at Highway 2.  Turn LEFT, onto Ontario Street.   Cross over the Lasalle Causeway Bridge, and stay on Ontario Street past City Hall.  The Museum is on your left hand side, (watch for the big red ship!) four blocks after City Hall, at 55 Ontario Street at Lower Union Street.

 Free parking is available at the lot adjacent to the Dry Dock, on Lower Union. (#16 on the map below)