Nestled in the trees along Longwoods Road in Chatham-Kent, between the communities of Thamesville and Bothwell, the museum doesn't appear to hold any great secrets. But the red log building houses some important artifacts from what was the first settlement of southwestern Ontario -- Fairfield Village.

In 1792 by Moravian missionary David Seisberger with his Delaware First Nation converts cut a church, a school and 40 homes out of the wilderness of what was then Upper Canada.

The peace was soon shattered when Americans, during the War of 1812, chased the British up the Thames River. They routed the British, killed the great Native Chief Tecumseh and then burned Fairfield Village, believing it to be a British settlement. Seisberger and his followers fled, and returned in 1815 to rebuild the village on the other side of the river.

In the 1940's, an archaeological dig of the original village was undertaken. The artifacts from it are now housed in the Fairfield Museum which is run by the United Church of Canada. Site manager Chris Aldred says 1,200 visitors - including many American history enthusiasts - visit each year.

Driving Approach:
Located on Highway #2 between Bothwell and Thamesville.

Hours of Operation:
May – October – Tuesday-Saturday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Other times by appointment.

For more information, please contact Fairfield Museum & National Historic Site at 519.692.4397.

For additional information on things to see and do in Chatham-Kent, please contact Chatham-Kent Tourism at 1.800.561.6125/519.354.6125 or email cktourism@chatham-kent.ca.