The Sharon Temple National Historic Site & Museum stands at the heart of East Gwillimbury and shares the history of our local community as well as the Children of Peace, a unique group of individuals who had an important and lasting impact on the reform movement in Upper Canada during the 1830s and 1840s, including the Rebellion of 1837 and elections of Robert Baldwin and Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine. In addition to the Sharon Temple, our site hosts a variety of heritage buildings and gardens. We continue to tell the important and fascinating story of the formation of and fight for responsible government in 19th century Canada and share the history of the site through programs, exhibits, and events.
Amenities
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Family-Friendly -
Guided Tour -
National Historic Site -
Parking -
Washrooms
Fun Facts
- Of all the historical buildings now on the Museum property, the Temple is the only one still in its original location.
- The original 2952 panes of glass in the Temple windows were shipped from England in barrels of molasses.
- William Lyon Mackenzie visited this community a number of times. On one partular visit in 1828, he described the Temple, still under construction, as “elegant and fanciful”.
- The Sharon Temple sat empty and fell into disrepair until 1917 when the York Pioneers and Historical Society intervened, restoring the structure and opening it as a museum. This is one of the first instances of historic preservation in Canada.
Location
Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum, 18974 Leslie Street, Sharon, ON L0G 1V0, Canada
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