Hamilton Civic Museums hit record number of visitors in 2017

HAMILTON, ON - The City of Hamilton today announced that it is projecting a new record for number of visitors at its six civic museums in 2017. It is anticipated that by the end of this year, 205,000 visitors will have experienced Hamilton’s unique heritage, distinctive architecture and innovative programming at the sites – surpassing the previous years’ totals.

“This record-setting year for our museums is just one of many indicators showing the significant interest in all that our city has to offer. I’m very encouraged that local residents and visitors from afar are taking the time to explore Hamilton’s world-class museums that help to shape our city into the fascinating community it is today.”

Fred Eisenberger, Mayor, City of Hamilton

Comparative figures as of end-of-month (November):

2017 - 195,677 (as of November 30, 2017)

2016 - 200,781

2015 - 171,928

2014 - 159,920

Breakdown of visitors by Museum (as of November 30, 2017):

Dundurn National Historic Site (NHS) & Hamilton Military Museum
Visitors: 62,575

Battlefield House Museum & Park NHS
Visitors: 33,966

Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology NHS
Visitors: 23,262

Whitehern Historic House & Garden NHS
Visitors: 11,775

Hamilton Children's Museum
Visitors: 23,262

Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum and Griffin House NHS
Visitors: 40,837

“I am incredibly proud of all our Museum staff who truly go above and beyond to provide visitors with an exceptional experience from the moment they walk through the doors. With several of our museums, the stories are embedded in the walls; but, our staff bring these places to life and draw out the fascinating details of the people who once lived there.” 

Anna Bradford, Director of Tourism & Culture, City of Hamilton

In addition to daily site visits, 2017 saw numerous special events and programming – some free of charge for the public – at the museums. This programming drew visitors from across the region and around the world, including:

• Canada 150 Hamilton – Dundurn’s Golden Anniversary and cooking workshops
• Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek at Battlefield House
• Harry Potter-themed wizarding workshop and mini maker faire at the Museum of Steam and Technology
• Special guest talk at Griffin House for Black History Month
• Spring jazz series, summer films and archaeology lectures at Fieldcote Museum
• New sailing ship exhibit at the Children’s Museum
• Hamilton and Scourge commemoration ceremony and artifacts exhibit at the Military Museum
• Wednesday lunchtime concerts at Whitehern’s historic garden

Additional Resources

• Hamilton Civic Museums – www.hamilton.ca/museums
• Take a virtual tour and start exploring Hamilton Civic Museums featuring over 130 panoramic scenes, 650 clickable hotspots and audio navigation from your home computer or mobile device
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