Ridge House Museum opens June 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026 for the season.
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm | Admission by donation
Address: 53 Erie Street South, Ridgetown, Ontario N0P 2C0
Email:
ckridgehouse@chatham-kent.ca
The Ridge House Museum is a restored 1875 Victorian home in the charming town of Ridgetown, Ontario. A part of the Arts and Culture division of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
Located in the original residence of Mr. and Mrs. George Mulholland, the modest middle-class family home in Ridgetown was constructed in 1875 for $200. As most were built in rural areas at this time, the house was designed as a typical Gothic revival home with a symmetrical floor plan, front and side porches, and a single front gable above the centre front door.
As Ridgetown was gearing up for the town's 1975 centennial celebration, the Ridgetown Rotary Club purchased the house as their centennial project. With the guidance of the Ridgetown & District Historical Society, the Ridge House Museum was born.
Established to collect and preserve artifacts and specimens significant to the area represented by Ridgetown and the former Howard Township, the Ridge House Museum presents and promotes the history of this region.
Discovery Den
Let your kid's imagination grow in our fun-filled, interactive, totally hands-on, innovative, and creative space at Ridge House Museum. Have fun with the whole family while exploring the history of Ridge House.
From light-up tables to magnet walls, there is much to keep everyone engaged with each visit. Enjoy time together in this natural-themed space by making new monthly crafts, and playing with different building materials and games. Features include a
magnetic wall,
light tables, craft tables,
games and a kitchen playset.
Exhibition
Sculpted By Ice: Landscapes and Life in the Last Ice Age
June 1 - August 31, 2026
Discover how glaciers shaped our region through engaging displays and hands‑on experiences. Examine fossils uncovered in nearby fields, and meet the remarkable Ice Age creatures that once lived here.
Programs
The Chatham-Kent Municipal Museums offer a wide variety pf engaging, educational and entertaining programs and events for all audiences.
Ridge House Discovery Half Day Camps
Tuesdays July 7 - August 25 | Ridge House Museum | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | Cost: $16
Brrr! Adventure awaits Tuesdays at the Ridge House Museum! Join us for super-cool half day camps at the Ridge House Museum where our campers discover Ice Age animals, dig into frosty fossils, build icy crafts, and learn what it took to survive the coldest era in history. Don't miss these mammoth-sized adventures. Sponsored by The Andersons' Inc.
Weekly Themes:
July - 7 - Glacial Giants
July 14 - Frozen Fauna
July 21 - Land of Ice
July 28 - Chilly Climate
August 4 - Ice Age Life
August 11 - Frozen Canvas
August 18 - Fossil Fun
August 25 - Extinction Explorers
Kids Half Day Camps
EventsDominion Day at the Ridge House
June 27, 2026 | Ridge House Museum | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Free
Step back in time and celebrate Dominion Day in true old-fashioned style! Join us at the Ridge House Museum for a party filled with Victorian-era charm, classic games, crafts, and community fun.
Frozen Fest
August 22, 2026 | Ridge House Museum | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Free
Celebrate the end of the season and party like it's the Pleistocene! Step into a world of mastodons, giant beavers and saber-tooth cats silliness, frosty crafts, and end-of-season fun for all ages. Bundle up your imagination and get ready to celebrate! Sponsored by The Andersons' Inc.
Education ProgramsBook a group experience with CK Arts + Culture! History comes to life in inspiring and exciting ways at the CK Municipal Museums. Our engaging education programs are designed to support and enhance the lessons taught in your classroom.
Call 519.360.1998 or email our program coordinator at ckridgehouse@chatham-kent.ca for more information.
Download Education Programs Brochure
Information & Services
Parking: Parking is provided free of charge. The parking lot is located on Oak Street.
Amenities: Climate controlled for your comfort and for the protection of our artifacts.
Accessibility: The museum is not currently wheelchair accessible. We would be pleased to accommodate you in any way we can, please contact the museum to arrange alternative access.
Tour Groups
The Ridge House Museum welcomes bus tours as well as church, school, and special interest groups year-round by appointment. Please call at least three weeks in advance to book your tour. Cost: $5.00 per person (minimum 10 people per tour). Refreshments are available for an additional fee.
Explore Ridge House Museum with a guided tour as you take in what life was like in 1875. Get creative in our hands-on interactive space, the Discovery Den, as you make crafts, play games, or design on our magnet wall or light table. There is something for everyone at the Ridge House Museum! Call 519-360-1998 or email ckridgehouse@chatham-kent.ca.
Advisory Committee
This committee's primary responsibilities are to ensure that the collection entrusted to the museum's care is adequately housed, conserved and documented. Visit
Committees of Council for meeting schedule, agendas and minutes.
Collections & Research
A collection of artifacts or archival materials is the foundation for every museum. The Ridge House Museum collection includes approximately 4,000 artifacts, photographic images, documents, and correspondence. These artifacts and archival materials are the basis of museum exhibitions, research, and programming. Please contact the museum with your research inquiry. Reproductions of archival materials may be acquired by following these How to Obtain Reproductions.
Volunteers
The museum is committed to providing meaningful volunteer opportunities including advisory committee members, curatorial assistants, museum attendants or program assistants. To learn more about these positions or the recruitment process, please email us at
ckridgehouse@chatham-kent.ca.
