Brick, Beam, and Beauty

Annandale National Historic Site

Step back into Tillsonburg's early days with a visit to Annandale National Historic Site, an extraordinary 1880s mansion built by the town's first mayor, E.D. Tillson. Renowned for its beautifully preserved Aesthetic Arts Movement interior, Annandale offers a fascinating glimpse into Victorian design, local history, and the innovative spirit that helped shape the community. Explore the attached museum's collection of artifacts and discover the stories that have defined Tillsonburg through the generations.

While talking heritage it is important to recognize Indigenous settlement in the region.  At 275 QuarterTown Line there is a sign 'Attawandaron Way".  It occupies lands settled by the Attawandaron people in the 14th and 15th centuries. This is the historic site of the largest known settlement of the Attawandaron people who were part of the Iroquoian Confederacy. 

Station Arts Centre

The Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre built inside two historic train stations is a place where art and history shine.  When you first walk into “The Station” as it’s affectionately referred to by locals, you’ll be in a cream-coloured brick building that was built by The Great Western Railway in 1879. The town’s first station, it was just a short walk away from hotels, the town’s Market Square and a large residential area.  As the arts cooperative grew throughout the 80's, their 1990's expansion was an opportunity to celebrate more train history.  They moved another train station to the property and expanded into it. Built in 1896, this station was formerly knowns as the Tillsonburg, Lake Erie and Pacific Railway Station and was in use until 1958 under its later name, The Canadian Pacific Railway.  

Visit this property for a glimpse of the past with a splash of creativity. Train station artifacts are on display, and the baggage room is now an art gallery, Of course, you will want to explore their other gallery exhibits and the robust gift shop stocked with a diverse collection of member handcrafted items for sale.  Also take time to enjoy the outdoor elements including the canopy which shelters farmers during the Saturday farm market (June-September), and the train car (complete with barn quilt).  Ask staff why the fanciful roof lettering for Tillsonburg - is missing an L.

South Norwich Historical Society

Discover the stories, craftsmanship, and ingenuity that helped shape rural Oxford County at the South Norwich Historical Society's heritage sites. Explore the Historic Otterville Station Museum, a beautifully preserved 1875 railway station featuring exhibits on local rural life, transportation, and community history, then step next door to Woodlawn Place, a remarkable octagonal home inspired by 19th-century architectural innovation.

Just a short distance away, the Otterville Mill stands as a reminder of the community's industrious past. While the historic mill is not open for tours, visitors can admire the building from the grounds and enjoy the nearby pavilion, a perfect spot for a picnic or to take in the picturesque surroundings. (For an inside view, book an appointment).

While the church no longer stands, Otterville is home to one of the few preserved Black pioneer burial grounds in Ontario.  It is a place for reflection and speaks to a community's passion for preserving history, which resulting in fundraising to locate and mark all graves in the cemetery. Read more about Black settlement in Oxford County and discover this local history at the museum.

Norwich Museum

Not all architecture has to be grand.  Step into the first home built in Norwich, by Quaker settler - Peter Lossing.  Take yourself back in time and think of how this humble one room home housed not only the Lossing family but others moving to the region.  Enjoy the calming Quaker blue and white of the home then step into the main museum building - a past Quaker meeting house.  Learn Quaker heritage inside and enjoy robust exhibits highlighting the businesses and settlement of the region.  This small-town museum has done a phenomena job preserving and saving buildings.  Also on site are barns sharing local agricultural and dairy heritage and the Gore church that was moved to this property, and it occasionally is home to musical performances. Discover Norwich's entrepreneurial spirit through stories of Canada's first cheese factory, the largest broom factory in the British Empire, and the area's rich Quaker and dairy heritage.

Beyond architecture this fascinating stop celebrates the ingenuity, skills, and maker traditions that continue to inspire the Oxford Handcrafted Trail today.

Elm Hurst Inn, Spa & Restaurant

Enjoy a meal to remember in the elegant dining rooms of the Elmhurst Inn Mansion restaurant, built in the Gothic Revival style. Enjoy the dining room's ornate details, exposed plaster with a message from 100 years ago, wander the grounds. We suggest photos by the fountain with the mansion in the background.  Make it a heritage overnight and book a room and pamper yourself with a spa treatment. The Elmhurst Inn is a common destination for romantic getaways, weddings but is also a common venue for maker retreats with ample banquet rooms, on site spa, and luxurious grounds.

Explore packages to plan your getaway. Choose from spa and culinary packages to plan your perfect escape.

Beachville District Museum

The Beachville District Museum tells the story of where stone comes from. Learn about how the local limestone quarry impacted building in Ontario, where you may see the stone along your travels, plus how it influenced settlement and therefore handmade arts in Beachville.  The Museum itself is located in a historical limestone home that shares the history of the region.  From mastodon bones to Beachville being the home of the first recorded baseball game in North America.

  Book a Hands-on Heritage Experience.  Make a Victorian crazy Quilt pillow.  Enjoy a butter churn picnic. Make an 1800's style leather peel baseball. Then play a game like they did in the 1800's. 

Woodstock Museum

Step inside Woodstock's historic Old Town Hall and discover the stories that have shaped the community for more than two centuries. Explore beautifully restored spaces, including the original 1879 Council Chambers and the elegant Victorian Grand Hall, while engaging exhibits bring Woodstock's history to life from the 1790s to today.

The museum is located on Museum Square in the heart of downtown Woodstock. Enjoy the outdoor features including the Patullo fountain and the neighbouring Market Theatre with its grand canopies which use to provide shelter to the farmer's market a century ago.  Now home to the vibrant community theatre - Theatre Woodstock.

Pick up a Blyss-Stitch Designs cross stich kit for a crafty souvenir. These kits are a reflection of the Oxford community - the architecture of our cities, the heritage breeds raised on farms in the county, and other favourite things. Available at Annandale NHS and Woodstock Museum. 

Historic Tours in Woodstock

Explore Woodstock's rich cultural heritage through a series of self-guided walking tours that bring the city's historic buildings, landmarks, and stories to life.

Wander through Courthouse Square and beyond as you uncover fascinating tales of local characters, ghost stories, hidden architectural details, and notable events that helped shape the community.

Along the way, enjoy Woodstock's vibrant downtown while discovering how the city has evolved over the years.