Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Peterborough (Canada). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Peterborough Lift Lock, Kawartha Speedway, and Riverview Park & Zoo. Also, be sure to include Art Gallery of Peterborough in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Peterborough (Ontario).
Table of Contents
Peterborough Lift Lock
Towering hydraulic canal lift lock. The Peterborough Lift Lock is a boat lift located on the Trent Canal in the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and is Lock 21 on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
For many years, the lock's dual lifts were the highest hydraulic boat lifts in the world, raising boats 65 ft (20 m). This was a considerable accomplishment in the first years of the 20th century, when conventional locks usually only had a 7 ft (2.1 m) rise.
In the 1980s, a visitor centre was built beside the lock. It offers interactive simulations of going over the lift lock in a boat, and historical exhibits detailing the construction of the lift lock.
Residents and visitors skate on the canal below the lift lock in the winter.
The Peterborough Lift Lock was designated a National Historic Site in 1979, and was named an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1987.
The Trent-Severn has a similar hydraulic lift lock, the Kirkfield Lift Lock, at its summit near Kirkfield, with basins of the same dimensions, but which has a smaller vertical lift.[1]
Address: Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough (Ashbrunham)
Kawartha Speedway
Sports facility in Ontario, Canada. Kawartha Speedway is a 3/8 mile paved oval located in Fraserville, Ontario, approximately 10 km southwest of Peterborough. The paved track is within the harness racing track, temporary grandstands are brought onto the harness racing tracks surface. In 2006, Kawartha Speedway held the final CASCAR Super Series race before it became the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2007. Since 2004, Kawartha was the host of the CASCAR Super Series finale. Kawartha Speedway held the finale of the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Season which was won by Scott Steckly. The following year, Jason Hathaway picked up his first ever win, and in 2009 D.J. Kennington won.
The facility is also host to a number of other racing venues. After some additional paving of the infield, Kawartha Durham Kart Club made the speedway its home track in 2009. With a variety of track layouts it has proven to be a popular venue within the karting community. The Peterborough Motor Sports Club also hosts solo events as part of the club's championship season, bringing in a wide variety of vehicles from stock to fully modified rally cars. Although hard to notice if you are not looking, there is also a specially constructed course for soap box cars. The 'Gravity Cavity' is located behind the parking lot and hosts a championship series for soap box enthusiasts.[2]
Address: 1382 County Rd 28, K0L 1V0 Fraserville (Rural Cavan Monaghan)
Riverview Park & Zoo
Outdoor recreation area with a menagerie. The Riverview Park & Zoo is a park and zoo located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Riverview Park & Zoo began in 1933 when the venue was opened by Ross Dobbin and is now owned by the City of Peterborough. In addition to its animal exhibits, the zoo features a miniature train ride, a F-86 Sabre fighter aircraft on display and the park contains a disc golf course. Admission and parking is free.[3]
Address: 1230 Water St, K9H 7G4 Peterborough (Northcrest)
Art Gallery of Peterborough
Art gallery in Peterborough, Ontario. The Art Gallery of Peterborough is a free admission, non-profit public art gallery in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. A registered charity that depends on the support of its members, it was founded in 1974 by an independent board of volunteers. In 1977 it was given the Foster House by the City of Peterborough, a historical residence set in parkland beside Little Lake. In 1979 The gallery expanded to its current size of 11,000 square feet with the construction of its modernist wing designed by Crang & Boake architects. The collection presently numbers over 1,300 pieces. In addition to its permanent collection and exhibitions, the gallery offers many educational programs for adults and children. There is also a gift shop featuring a variety of works by local and national artisans.
The acquisition program is funded by private donations and matching grants from the Canada Council. Annual operating and management costs are provided by the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and community fundraising efforts. The Peterborough municipal government provides a grant to cover building maintenance and landscaping. The gallery is a member of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries.
Prominent Canadian artists with works in the collection include David Bierk, Ron Bloore, Ivan Eyre, Jack Shadbolt, and Bill Vazan.[4]
Address: Crescent St, K9J 2G1 Peterborough (Town Ward)
Canadian Canoe Museum
The Canadian Canoe Museum is a museum dedicated to canoes located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The museum's mission is to preserve and share the culture and history of the canoe.[5]
Address: 910 Monaghan Rd, K9J 5K4 Peterborough (Otonabee Macro)
Lang Pioneer Village
Museum in Keene, Ontario. Lang Pioneer Village Museum is a living history museum located in the hamlet of Lang in Peterborough County, Ontario. It was established in 1967 by the County of Peterborough. Lang Pioneer Village is situated on the shores of the historic Indian River. Lang Pioneer Village is an "outdoor museum" featuring more than 30 restored and furnished buildings, many of which were donated from the surrounding townships. The buildings, constructed between 1820 and 1910, are interpreted by costumed villagers portraying authentic 19th-century pioneer life. Since 2014 the Museum has been the site of the Aabnaabin Encampment, a pre-colonization representation of a Michi Saagiig camp where the story of the First Nations history and culture of the region is told by indigenous interpreters. Lang Pioneer Village Museum is owned and operated by the County of Peterborough.[6]
Address: 104 Lang Rd, K0L 2G0 Keene (Rural Asphodel-Norwood)
Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains
Catholic cathedral in Peterborough, Ontario. The Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough, Ontario, and one of the oldest Catholic churches in Ontario. It is located at 411 Reid Street in Peterborough, Ontario. St. Peter's was designed by James Chevette in the Gothic Revival style. It was elevated to a cathedral in 1882.[7]
Address: 411 Reid St, K9H 2M4 Peterborough (Town Ward)
Peterborough Museum & Archives
The Peterborough Museum & Archives, formerly the Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives, is a historical museum located within the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Found only a short distance from the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of the Peterborough Lift Lock, the museum has a history spanning well over a century and is home to the second oldest historical collection of its kind within Ontario. Thousands of linear feet of archival materials and over 33,000 artifacts are included in the collection of which only 3% is displayed at any one time due to space restrictions.[8]
Peterborough Public Library
Public library system. The Peterborough Public Library is a public library system in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.[9]
Address: 360 George St. North, Peterborough (Town Ward)
Kawartha Artists' Gallery & Studio
Museum, Art gallery, Shopping
Address: 420 O'Connell Rd, K9J 4C9 Peterborough (Otonabee Macro)
Ecology Park
Park, Relax in park
Address: 1899 Ashburnham Dr, Peterborough (Ashbrunham)