Exhibitions and Events

The Peterborough Museum and Archives is a family friendly facility. We offer exhibits and events all year round that all members of the family can enjoy.

Exhibits

Each year we offer several temporary exhibitions presenting a variety of topics. View our list of past exhibitions to see what we have previously hosted. You can also find out what is currently on display by visiting our featured exhibitions.

Our permanent exhibition tells a chronological history of Peterborough.

The story begins in Nogojiwanong (which translates to "The place at the end of the rapids") and the Indigenous communities that lived off the land and waterways in this area. We then learn about the early relationships that formed with Europeans during the fur trade. Later, in 1825, Irish immigrants settled here under the supervision of Peter Robinson – a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. Twenty-five years later, Peterborough is incorporated as a town, with a population of 2,191. Agriculture and lumber industries are the two major reasons for growth at this time. Peterborough would also see extensive industrial growth as it begins generating hydro electrical power - known to be one of the first Canadian cities to do so. This proved to be an attractive and cheap resource harnessed by companies such as Edison General Electric Company (later, Canadian General Electric) and the American Cereal Company (later to become Quaker Oats).

Upcoming exhibits

The following table outlines the scheduled, temporary exhibits that will be on loan or curated in-house.