Mackenzie House
Experience Toronto’s Hidden History
Experience a rare glimpse of 1850s Toronto inside the modest row house where fiery reformer and rebel William Lyon Mackenzie once lived, now surrounded by the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers of the modern city. Use the historic printing press and uncover the story of Mackenzie and his contemporaries in publishing before he became Toronto’s first mayor, tracing his dramatic journey from publishing to public office to exile. Delve into the sights and stories of a city fascinated by mystery, secrets and spirits, and learn about the people who called this house home. With its rumoured resident ghost, Mackenzie House reveals the fascinating boundaries between rebellion and respectability, history and legend.
The historic part of Mackenzie House is under restoration. Drop-in workshops in the printshop are offered.
Admission
General admission is free. Some exhibitions and events may carry a separate charge where noted.
Hours of Operation
Wednesday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Health and Safety
The public is not required to wear a mask but may choose to wear a mask in any settings they wish and will be supported in doing so. Museum visitors are treated with respect and understanding, regardless of their decision to wear a mask.
On-site Services
- Parking: commercial lots nearby
- Partial accessibility. Please call 416-392-6915 for specific accessibility questions
Groups of 15 people or more are charged a fee for their visits. This fee includes a reserved time for your group and a dedicated tour guide to ensure an enjoyable and engaging experience.
For more information on group tours, fees or to book your group visit, email machouse@toronto.ca. Please contact us 14 days in advance of your preferred visit date. Groups without an advanced booking may not be accommodated.
By Transit
Take the Yonge/University subway line to Dundas subway station, exit to surface and walk two blocks east to Bond Street. Or, take either the Dundas or Queen streetcar to Bond Street and walk south from Dundas Street East or north from Queen Street East. For specific TTC route and schedule information call 416-393-4636 (INFO) or visit the TTC website.
Location
Traitor or Patriot? Visionary or Fool? Friend to Democracy or Enemy of the Crown?
What role did William Lyon Mackenzie play in the history of Toronto? Mackenzie House dives into Victorian Toronto and the contrary and controversial man who had such an impact on our city – from journalist to mayor, mayor to exile, exile to politician.
This tiny, historic former row house sits surrounded by skyscrapers in the heart of downtown Toronto, just steps from Canada’s busiest intersection. Hear the Mackenzie story and gain a glimpse into the gritty Victorian era in which he lived: a time of macabre fascination, an era obsessed with crime, secrets, spirits and death. Learn about the history of the house, the diverse people who made it their home, and the ever-evolving urban neighbourhood that has grown up around it.
Rumoured to have its own resident ghosts, Mackenzie House examines the border between rebellion and respectability, life and death. Are you brave enough to discover all this for yourself?
This restored 1858 townhouse was the final home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor and leader of the 1837 Rebellion. The site features furniture from the nineteenth century, an 1845 printing press and artifacts from its former print shop.
In 1936 when William Lyon Mackenzie King, Mackenzie’s grandson, was Prime Minister, the house was saved from demolition when its neighbouring row houses were destroyed.