Community Waterfront Heritage Centre (CWHC)

Celebrating the Marine, Rail and Industrial Heritage of Owen Sound, Ontario

Community Waterfront Heritage Centre Hours

Friday: 12:00pm-4:00pm | Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm

The museum is available by appointment for other dates and times

Adults: $5. Children (up to 11 years old): Free

Entry is free for OPEN Card holders.

Notices and Announcements:

Celebrate the Season with us!

Join us at the museum on December 6th from 1-4pm for free museum admission, hot chocolate, and a Christmas Sale!

Book a private tour!

The CWHC is open for appointment outside of our regular hours! Email info@waterfrontheritage.ca to inquire about arranging a visit any day of the week!

Last Updated on November 24th, 2025

Community Waterfront Heritage Centre
1155 1st Ave W,Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8

Call Us: 519-371-3333
Email: info@waterfrontheritage.ca

CWHC is a registered charity:
# 839177177 RR0001

CWHC is a member of the Ontario Museum Association and the Ontario Historical Society.

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Celebrate the Season With the Marine & Rail Museum

Celebrate the holidays with us at the Marine and Rail Museum on Saturday December 6th!

🎟️ Visit with free admission between 1pm and 4pm

🎁 Buy locally made goods of all types (including fabulous stocking stuffers!) from our gift shop

☕ Chat with staff and volunteers over a cup of hot chocolate – we’re reflecting on 2025 moments and excited about our plans for 2026

📜Adopt an artifact as a gift for the history lover in your life

PA Day Model Building

Build your first model boat at the Marine and Rail Museum!

🛠️Put together your own Ancaster with new model kits from Marathon of History!

🔎Learn about the museum’s model collection with a ship search scavenger hunt!

🕒November 21, 2025 | 10am-4pm

🛶Model Kits: $12

Adopt an Artifact

Show your support for local heritage by adopting an artifact today!

Pick your favorite artifact at the museum and “adopt” it at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum tier.

Platinum: $100

Gold: $75

Silver: $50

Bronze: $25

When you adopt an artifact, you’ll get an adoption certificate, and your support for the museum will be displayed next to the artifact in our galleries. Platinum-tier adopters will also have thei names added to our list of Heritage Heroes!

Email curator@waterfrontheritage.ca to learn more.

About CWHC

Learn all about the Community Waterfront Hertitage Centre

The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre celebrates and preserves Owen Sound’s heritage on the waterfront. It focuses on the marine, rail and industrial history of the City and surrounding communities.

Our Vision

The CWHC enlivens community connections and experiences through sharing collective stories.

Our Mission

The CWHC honours the legacy of “The Waterfront” community hub by sharing stories, presenting fun and educational experiences and offering unique opportunities to explore the curiosity of area residents and connect the imagination of visitors to our collective history.

Our History

The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre is located in the historic CN Rail Station, on Owen Sound’s harbourfront. The Marine Rail Heritage Centre was first established in 1978 by a volunteer group of history enthusiasts who wanted to preserve and expand upon Owen Sound’s history as a thriving port. It preserves the area’s marine, rail and industrial history. It opened to the public in 1985.

On June 28, 2014, the Centre officially opened under new management. We hope you will visit us regularly, whether in person or virtually.

Housed in a former Canadian National Railway Station, the museum features artifacts, scale models, archival photos and interactive stations. It also showcases exquisite ship models made by skilled artisans, along with CNR and CPR memorabilia. Each season, it hosts temporary special exhibits. The former CN station is now listed on the city’s Heritage Register.

Ask to see the working model railroad, or if you’re there at 12 or 5 p.m. enjoy the sound of the historic Kennedy Foundry Whistle.