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:

Trivia at the Museum

Come to the museum on March 26th at 6:00pm for Trivia at the Museum! Test your knowledge at this friendly night of questions and history!

Off-Season Hours

The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre is open this Spring! Visit us on Fridays from 12-4pm and Saturdays from 10am-4pm. To visit other days, please email info@waterfrontheritage.ca.

Last Updated on March 23, 2026

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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Trivia at the Museum

Join us for Trivia Night at the museum! Our first trivia night will feature historical trivia in the old CN Station!

📅Thursday, March 26th

🕙 6pm

🎟️ $10/person

📧 Email info@waterfrontheritage.ca to learn more.

Hidden Gems

We’re excited to announce our new Hidden Gems exhibit! Recently, we’ve been working with our collection to research and document items in our collection that we didn’t know much about. Along the way, we found a lot of things that have important connections to local history but have never been on display before.

Throughout 2026, we’ll be cycling through some of these artifacts to show off some of these pieces that haven’t been seen before. Drop by to see pieces that we’ve learned more about, pieces that are hard to fit into larger exhibits, and pieces that we previously didn’t even know we had!

While you’re visiting, make sure to check out our new gallery guides! These new guides will provide more information on some of the most asked about artifacts in our galleries.

This project was made possible by a grant from Community Foundation Grey Bruce”

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.