It's time to Discover Muskoka Discovery Centre!

Be prepared to be amazed.. and plan your next trip to the Muskoka Discovery Centre, once Lockdown is lifted!

Located at Muskoka Wharf, onbeautiful Lake Muskoka, the Muskok Discovery Centre, one half of the Iconic Muskoka Steamships offerings) is more than just a museum.. with fully interactive exhibits and displays, the dynamic Kids Zone, virtual worjshops and speaker series, events, a full boathouse and even summer day camps for kids... you need to make this your next family destination. 

COVID-19 has changed many things in our lives, so why not try new ways to learn and explore!  Be sure to call the Discovery Centre to find out how you can visit safely!  Sign up for updates and learn more online at www.realmuskoka.com

Once allowed to open again, Muskoka Discovery Centre will be offering the following 2021 Exhibits:  

Aging Gracefully (features 9 resorts over a 100 years old that are still operating today with pictures from Then and Now, this exhibit located on hotel porch), Dining In Elegance (a changing exhibit that features china from various hotels, ships that are part of our collection), Notable Persons (an exhibit about 48 notable persons who have visited Muskoka through the ages), ACBS – The Boats, the People (this exhibit will bring more prominence to ACBS including their interactive exhibit and stories), Climate Change is Real- Take Action! Love Muskoka Sustain Muskoka (is an exhibit that identifies the Impacts of Climate Change  in Muskoka and Actions that everyone can take to make a difference as we Love Muskoka Sustain Muskoka, and Identify the Artifacts (artifacts are from our archives will challenge our visitors to identify what the artifact is).

BALANCE: A Muskoka Unlimited Experience is an exhibit that is a hub of creativity showcasing new and established local artists.  Unique one-of-a-kind creations from 15-16 artists be exhibited from July 19 to August 16, 2021.  These talented artists and their works of art will be displayed throughout the Muskoka Discovery Centre. 

Friends of Muskoka Watershed – ASHMuskoka Project which was funding by Ontario Trillium Foundation in the amount of 733,600 that has been coordinated by the Friends of the Muskoka Watershed includes a public education component.  Working together with the FMW an interactive in-person exhibit is currently being developed along with a digital video that will be hosted on our website and FMW website promoting the interactive exhibit.  The Interactive exhibit (still to be named) and digital video will open early July 2021.  Working together our commitment to education is stronger.

Window Exhibits
When walking the Wharf boardwalk at night be sure to stop by and look in at our Window Exhibits – we currently have two steamships in each of the Windows.  These will be changed on a regular basis.

Stay connected and engaged through COVID-19

MSDC @ Home Virtual Programs

Enjoy our programs from the comfort and safety of your own home through our MSDC @ Home Virtual Programs.  Our programs feature speakers and industry experts on a variety of subjects that include authors, historians, our archives, scientists, sustainability and climate change experts.  Here is a list of speaker webinars we have scheduled and we are constantly building and adding to this list – everyone should be checking our website: www.realmuskoka. For up to date information.

Sustainability Climate Change Webinar Series (must register here)

Thursday April 29 @ 5:00 p.m.  Speakers and Topics

Watershed Management: Why not Manage Water as part of an Ecosystem?

Kevin Trimble  & Richard Lammers (30 minutes)

How Cottage Owners Can be Nice to Mother Nature

Rebecca Willison (10 min)

Muskoka GIS Explained

Graham Good (10 min)

Thursday May 6 @ 5:00 p.m. Speakers & Topics (must register here)

Terrestrial Spaces: Muskoka Conservancy

Importance of wetlands and vernal pools as habitat for species, breeding areas, and flood mitigation. I’ll also talk about the importance of land conservation and how Muskoka Conservancy provides connectivity between natural areas.

Aaron Rusak

Education, social norms, and research-informed climate change engagement

Dr. Ellen Field

Thursday May 13 @ 5:00 p.m. Speakers & Topics (must register here)

Climate Change – Is this really such a big deal for Muskoka?”

Dr. Peter F. Sale and Dr. Richard Lammers from the Muskoka Watershed Council

Richard Lammers, Muskoka Watershed Council

Thursday May 20 @ 5:00 p.m.  Speaker & Topic (must register here)

Indigenous Perspective : Reconnecting with the Natural World

Larry McDermott

Thursday May 27 @ 5:00 p.m. Speaker & Topic (must register here)

Imagining a good future for our lakes despite climate change

Dr. Norman Yan

Authors Webinar Series

Tuesday June 1 @ 7:00 p.m.    Speaker & Topic (check website for registration)

Jack Payette, Author will speak about his new book Nitam: The First

A story of a disparate trio of Anishinaabe teens who found each other while trying to escape their personal terrors. It soon becomes a spiritual journey of one of those boys, who, through a sentence from the courts, an assemblage of unique people, and the teaching stories of his father, learns the importance of self, others, and family.

Jack is a friend of the Muskoka Discovery Centre and assists annually with our Canoe Day celebrations.  Jack has a Batchelor of Education in Native Studies degree and have been quite active in Native causes and programs to help my Anishinaabe people.  Jack lives in Rama First Nation.

Sunday June 20 @ 2:00 p.m.    Speaker & Topic (check website for registration)

Gabriele Wills joins us to talk about her new book Lighting the Stars

Gabriele loves to recreate an era in which she can immerse herself (and readers), by weaving compelling stories around meticulously researched facts.

Tucked into the rugged Canadian wilderness of Muskoka’s majestic lake country, Merilee Sutcliffe’s peaceful town seems worlds away from the escalating conflict in Europe. But life is about to change dramatically in the Summer of 1940. As her patriotic friends and relatives leave for battle, her small town is thrust into the war machine. Merilee’s formerly tranquil

skies soon roar with aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force, stationed nearby to train young men determined to liberate their country from Nazi occupation. When German Prisoners of War march into her shocked community, they become Merilee’s closest neighbours - and biggest threat.

MORE TO BE BOOKED BETWEEN JUNE 20 AND NOVEMBER 25

Thursday November 25 @ 10:00              Speaker & Topic (check website for registration)

Ian Turnbull, historian will talk about the Wooden Boats In Muskoka

The presentation tells the story of wooden boats and the steamships, using many video clips and still images from Ian’s collection