Port Dover Harbour Museum

Port Dover Harbour Museum "If there were an award for the best small-town museum in Canada, this would surely be a candidate.

The Port Dover Harbour Museum promotes and preserves the history of Port Dover, with focus on the community’s commercial fishing heritage along the north shore of Lake Erie. It's crammed with artifacts from Great Lakes shipping, and has insightful commentary, plus plenty of hands on displays" - Leslie Papp - Toronto Star

The Port Dover Harbour Museum is partially housed in an original fisherman's

net shanty. This section is dedicated to the history of Port Dover's commercial fishing industry, which continues to be an important part of local life. Permanent Galleries present exhibits on the days of commercial sail as well as Lake Erie shipwrecks, ship building, Long Point, rum running, and other aspects of lakeside life in this unique community. Outdoor Attractions include the 1932 fishtug Almidart, a 1912 lake-freighter wheelhouse, and access to the river along our picturesque wooden dock. Since 2002, the museum has been the home to a major collection of artifacts from the 1852 wreck of the Steamer Atlantic near Long Point. "One of the most interesting and friendly small-town museums in Canada" Harvey Currell -Toronto Sun

When you work in museums, the "other duties as assigned" in our job descriptions is a looooong list! On Wednesday mornin...
06/05/2026

When you work in museums, the "other duties as assigned" in our job descriptions is a looooong list! On Wednesday morning, Curator Katie and our fabulous volunteer Paula gave the 52' steel hull of the ALMIDART a thorough scrub-a-dub-dub in preparation for a new paint job. 🧼

Later that day, Katie and our Asst. Curator, Catherine, started to paint the side of the hull that faces the parking lot and lift bridge. It's a BIG job, though, so we're crossing our fingers for some more nice weather next week in order for us to finish it off.

Be sure to stop by the Arbor Dog Races on Saturday, June 13th at 11am to see the finished product!

It takes a lot of elbow grease to keep our museum sparkling clean! A big thanks to one of our lovely volunteers, Paula, ...
06/03/2026

It takes a lot of elbow grease to keep our museum sparkling clean! A big thanks to one of our lovely volunteers, Paula, who never shys away from helping with the messy tasks that keep our building in good condition for visitors. Here she is sweeping off the cobwebs and spotting wasp nests (off camera) before she starts washing the wheelhouse windows.

We love our volunteers!

🛥️ Our museum is beyond excited to host the wonderful West Lynn Public School Choir for a performance of nautical songs ...
06/02/2026

🛥️ Our museum is beyond excited to host the wonderful West Lynn Public School Choir for a performance of nautical songs in Riverfront Park on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:00pm.

The choir has been hard at work practicing some old classics AND writing their own original sea shanty about the sinking of the S.S. Atlantic.

Please bring your lawn chair and join us to help celebrate these young singers! ⚓

Looking for a fun PA Day activity? Join us at the museum on Friday, June 5th, where we will be making these delicious fr...
06/01/2026

Looking for a fun PA Day activity? Join us at the museum on Friday, June 5th, where we will be making these delicious fruit-themed fans that look good enough to eat!

Perfect for kids ages 5–10, this quick and colourful activity takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. Drop in anytime between 1:00 PM–3:00 PM. Our tiniest visitors can also enjoy a seasonal scavenger hunt throughout the museum.

Admission is by donation.

👀 Look at these lunkers 🎣 These are part of the first prize packages for winners of the Arbor Dog Races and costume cont...
05/31/2026

👀 Look at these lunkers 🎣
These are part of the first prize packages for winners of the Arbor Dog Races and costume contest!
They squeak and crinkle - perfect for any pooch 🐾

June 13 📍 Riverfront Park ⏰ Starts at 11am 🐶 All friendly dogs welcome!

Today's the last day to enjoy our display on the Port Dover Cemetery. We're open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, so be sure to s...
05/30/2026

Today's the last day to enjoy our display on the Port Dover Cemetery. We're open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, so be sure to stop in and see the exhibit before it's six feet under!

Have you visited the exhibit and want a closer look at the Port Dover Cemetery Register Book? Click here:
https://norfolkheritage.ca/pdhm-where-the-past-rests-port-dover-cemetery/

This digitized version of the register contains additional links to see photos, artifacts, and objects from the museum's collection that are related to some of the people buried in the cemetery.

Summer is fast upon us and the Port Dover Harbour Museum has just FOUR spaces left in our amazing summer camps! Join our...
05/28/2026

Summer is fast upon us and the Port Dover Harbour Museum has just FOUR spaces left in our amazing summer camps! Join our summer student Katrin for games, crafts, experiments, drama skits, nature walks, and more.

FRIDAY, JULY 17th - Magical Mayhem (2 SPOTS!)

Magical Mayhem is where imagination takes center stage! Campers will dive into a world of wonder through enchanting crafts, spellbinding games, and whimsical challenges. It’s a magical experience filled with joy, discovery, and just the right amount of mischief.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 - Weird Wonders (2 SPOTS!)

Prepare for giggles, goo, and totally wild fun! This week campers will make messy experiments, play unusual games, and dive into adventures full of silliness. This is the camp for kids who love to laugh, explore, and be a little wacky. Are you ready to embrace the weird?

For full camp details incl. times, ages, prices, etc.: https://norfolkheritage.ca/pdhm-summer-camp/

Registration can be done either in person at the museum or online via Norfolk County’s ENCORE system. Click here to be taken to Encore: https://norfolkcounty.perfectmind.com/SocialSite/MemberRegistration/MemberSignIn

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!Do you know someone 14+ who is looking for something FUN to do this summer that will ALSO count toward...
05/27/2026

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

Do you know someone 14+ who is looking for something FUN to do this summer that will ALSO count towards their Community Service hours?

The Port Dover Harbour Museum is currently seeking youth volunteers ages 14+ to assist with our Summer Camp programs this July and August. No previous experience is required – just enthusiasm, responsibility, and a willingness to get involved. Volunteers will support camp staff with daily activities such as games and crafts, assist with general clean up, and help create a positive and memorable experience for campers throughout the summer.

Before they can begin to volunteer, all youths are required to attend a mandatory orientation on SATURDAY MAY 30th from 10:00AM - 12:30PM. This short session includes an introduction to the museum, Health & Safety and AODA training, a fun museum challenge, and a complementary pizza lunch.

Interested in joining our team? Contact the museum for more information and email [email protected] to RSVP!

Less than one month until The Arbor Dog Races and Costume Contest - June 13. We've changed the schedule for this year - ...
05/20/2026

Less than one month until The Arbor Dog Races and Costume Contest - June 13.

We've changed the schedule for this year - so be sure not to miss anything!

11:00 am: Costume Contest on the Dock – $2/dog to enter (open to all breeds)

11:15 am: Costume Parade down to the Pier!

11:45 pm: Dachshund Races – $5/dog to enter

12:15 pm: Heinz 57 Races (all breeds welcome!) – $5/dog to enter

Find all the details here: https://norfolkheritage.ca/pdhm-arbor-dog-races/

Our display on the Port Dover Cemetery comes to a close on May 30, so be sure to pop in soon to see it!Did you know the ...
05/19/2026

Our display on the Port Dover Cemetery comes to a close on May 30, so be sure to pop in soon to see it!

Did you know the cemetery board has developed a walking tour that you can download on their website?
Visit https://portdovercemetery.ca/port-dover-cemetery-map or come in to grab a printed copy from us.

Address

44 Harbour Street
Port Dover, ON
N0A1N0

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+1519-426-5870 1036

Website

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