Community Waterfront Heritage Centre, Owen Sound

06/22/2026

All aboard for Tea on the Train!

This summer, we will be hosting three teas aboard Coach 4884. Each tea will feature desserts from the Reach Centre and a presentation about a new historical topic. This year’s teas are:

📅July 23 | Today’s Visitors: Modern ships in Owen Sound’s harbour

📅August 6 | People and Propellers: The History and Legacy of William Kennedy & Sons ltd.

📅August 13 | Bringing Up the Rear: The History and Purpose of the Caboose

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/tea-on-the-train--2026

Please be aware that due to its historic nature, Coach 4884 can only be entered using stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

06/21/2026

We'll see you this evening at Harbour Nights! We'll be open with free admission for every Harbour Nights concert held outside the museum.

Join us Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m. at The Marine and Rail Museum in Owen Sound for an evening celebrating Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers with Saving Grace - Celebrating Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

🎶 Get ready for an incredible night of music!

Featuring seasoned musicians with decades of experience, this talented lineup brings together country, bluegrass, rock, blues, jazz, and more. From touring and recording to inspiring the next generation of musicians, Elmer Jackson, Mark Savard, Cory Ross, Dan Ayotte, and Joe Reda have shared stages across Canada and beyond.

Join us for an unforgettable performance filled with great songs, stories, and musical mastery!

Bring a lawn chair, a friend or neighbour and enjoy Saving Grace.

The site opens at 6 p.m. with Sundays Ice Cream Parlour and The Flying Fork both on site serving up the best eats and treats all night long!

A huge thanks to our sponsor TD for their commitment to live music all summer long and a very special thank you to Pizzaville for being our June 21 sponsor!

See you all soon! ***Remember in inclement weather we head to the Harmony Centre so keep an eye out for our social posts and listen for radio updates if the weather looks poor.

BruceGreySimcoe Grey County Tourism

06/19/2026

The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre is putting together profiles of community members from across Owen Sound’s history who contributed to local marine, rail, and industrial activity.

Do you have a family member who worked on a ship, train, or factory? Share their story with us to have them included in this display that will highlight the people that form the backbone of our waterfront heritage!

To have someone included in these community profiles, please send the following to [email protected]:

✨Their name
✨Where they worked and what they did there
✨Any interesting stories you would like to have included in their profile
✨A photo, if you have one

06/17/2026

We've had tugboats on the mind lately at the museum. Not only did we have three in the harbour a couple weekends ago, but we just catalogued these tugboat photos for our collection.

These photos were taken by David Strutt during the 2009 Tugfest in Owen Sound. Among the boats pictured here is the Still Watch, originally launched by Russel Brothers in 1960 as the Ville Marie.

Do you have a favorite tug or small vessel that you've seen in the harbour?

These images were given to the CWHC by David Strutt in memory of Norm Meneray.

06/16/2026

Heritage Harbour Walks start this Thursday, June 18!

From the earliest ships to the end of the railways, this 45-minute walking tour is a great way to hear the city's stories while taking in the waterfront scenery!

📅 Thursdays | Starting June 18
🕰️ 4:15pm
⌛45 Minutes
🎟️ Adults: $10 | Youth (5-12) $5

Get tickets at the museum or online at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/heritage-harbour-walks

For private tours, email [email protected]

06/13/2026

We've got a great summer slate of programs and events starting soon! Upcoming programs include:

👟 Heritage Harbour walks: Walk along the harbour to hear stories of Owen Sound's history and growth! Every Thursday at 4:15pm.

Tickets at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/heritage-harbour-walks

⚓ Sailors Grave Stories: Tour Greenwood Cemetery to learn about local sailors and Great Lakes shipwrecks. Every Saturday (Starting June 20) at 5pm.

Tickets at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/sailor-grave-stories-and-great-lakes-ghost-ships--2026

🍵 Tea on the Train: Step aboard Coach 4884 for tea, treats, and history! July 23, August 6, August 13, at 2pm

Tickets at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/tea-on-the-train--2026

For more information about any of these programs, email [email protected]

06/11/2026

Join us on Saturdays at Greenwood Cemetery for Sailors Grave Stories.
This guided tour will take guests through the cemetery with stops at the graves of Owen Sound’s greatest ship captains and other sites like the Potter’s Field Memorial.

📅 Saturdays starting June 20
⌚ 5:00pm
🎟️ Tickets: $10 | Tickets available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/sailor-grave-stories-and-great-lakes-ghost-ships--2026
📍 Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum, 190 1st St SW, Owen Sound

Tours are 45 minutes and include walking on grass and uneven terrain.

Dates are subject to change depending on services at the cemetery.

For private tours, email [email protected]

06/11/2026

We're happy to say that the museum will be open during Harbour Nights this summer! Not only that, but entry will be free for everyone who comes in during the concerts.

Join us Sunday, June 14th at 7 p.m. at The Marine and Rail Museum in Owen Sound for an evening of country music!

Tianna Woods is an award-winning country artist and 7-time Top 5 CMAO Female Artist nominee. A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, she delivers high-energy performances with powerful vocals and a dynamic stage presence.
She has performed across Canada the U.S. and Japan, and on cruise ships. Her music blends country and rock influences, mixing crowd-favourite covers with her own original songs to create an engaging and unforgettable live experience.

It's our first night back at the Harbour after a long winter, we can't wait to see you all there! Bring a lawn chair, a friend or neighbour and enjoy Tianna Woods.

The site opens at 6 p.m. with Sundays Ice Cream Parlour and The Flying Fork both on site serving up the best eats and treats all night long!

A huge thanks to our sponsor TD for their commitment to live music all summer long and a very special thank you to Zoomer 92.3 FM The Original Greatest Hits for being our June 14th sponsor!

See you all soon! ***Remember in inclement weather we head to the Harmony Centre so keep an eye out for our social posts and listen for radio updates if the weather looks poor.

# OutdoorLiveMusic

06/07/2026

Learn about the history of Owen Sound's waterfront with the return of our Heritage Harbour Walks!

From the earliest ships to the end of the railways, this 45-minute walking tour is a great way to hear the city's stories while taking in the waterfront scenery!

📅 Thursdays | Starting June 18
🕰️ 4:15pm
⌛45 Minutes
🎟️ Adults: $10 | Youth (5-12) $5

Get tickets at the museum or online at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/heritage-harbour-walks

For private tours, email [email protected]

06/07/2026

There's an uncommon sight! Three tugboats in the harbour at once. In this photo we have:

The Petite Forte with the barge St. Marys Cement at the cement silos.

The John D. next to the barge in the middle.

And the Vigilant I with the barge in the lower left corner.