Ridge House Museum is closed for the 2023 season. Visit Ridge House on PA Days! We're open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm! Admission by donation.
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
Welcome
Located in the original residence of Mr. and Mrs. George Mulholland, the modest middle-class family home in Ridgetown was constructed in 1875 for $200.00. Like most builds 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. Stop in and enjoy the
Discovery Den, a play-based learning space for both children and adults with weekly heritage-themed crafts each month.
Programs
Let your creativity flow and learn new skills in the variety of programming offered throughout the year for people of all ages. We are pleased to offer an online registration service for your convenience. In order to register for a program at Ridge House, you will need to create an account in Arts + Culture Program Registration. Once you have your account set up, please browse through the available programs offered in museums. Need assistance registering? Please call 519-360-1998 or email
ckridgehouse@chatham-kent.ca.
Fall PA Day Club Programs
Cool Beans!
Friday, September 15, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Age: 6-12 | Ridge House Museum's Discovery Den | $10
Did you know that in Chatham-Kent, soybeans are one of our three major crops? So, this September, let's get crafty with beans at the Ridge House Museum PA Day Club to celebrate. Join us for an hour-long workshop as we create a beautiful mosaic out of beans.
Ghosts and Ghouls
Friday, October 6, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Age: 6-12 | Ridge House Museum's Discovery Den | $10
Did you know that Halloween traditions can be traced to the Victorian period, including the popularity of ghost stories? This PA Day Club at the Ridge House, let's get into the Halloween spirit by making some ghostly decor.
Finger Knitting
Friday, November 17, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Age: 6-12 | Ridge House Museum's Discovery Den | $10
Where did most Victorians get their winter attire? They made them, of course. This November for our PA Day Club at the Ridge House, let's learn the basics of finger knitting and make an infinity scarf.
Register for Museum ProgramsSchool Programs
Information & Services
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.
Hours: Seasonal June 1 - August 27, 2023. Open Wednesday - Sunday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm; Thursday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm.
Address: 53 Erie Street South, Ridgetown, Ontario N0P 2C0
Admission: By donation
Contact Information
Phone: 519-360-1998 or 519-674-2223
Email: ckridgehouse@chatham-kent.ca
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 3 weeks in advance to book your tour. Cost: $5.00 per person (minimum 10 people per tour). Refreshments are available for an additional fee.
Discovery Den
Let your kid's imagination grow in our fun-filled, interactive, totally hands-on, innovative, and creative space. Have fun with the whole family while exploring the history of Ridge House. Watch for monthly programs for both children and adults.
Features:
- Magnetic Wall
- Light Tables
- Craft Table
- Games
- Kitchen Playset
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
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.
Research
The Ridge House Museum's collection of artifacts and archival materials may include valuable information for your research. Please contact the museum with your research enquiry. 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 contact the museum.
