Fort York National Historic Site

I recently had the opportunity to visit Fort York, located at 250 Fort York Blvd in downtown Toronto, and it was an experience I won't soon forget! I was amazed to discover that there's a heritage site right in the heart of the city.I was fortunate enough to join a free tour group in the morning, and our guide provided a captivating explanation of the site's history, detailing each building with great care. It was truly fascinating to learn about the lives of the soldiers and how they managed to survive during that time period.Fort York, spanning over 43 acres, is a preserved archeological park that holds great significance. It served as a battleground where British soldiers, First Nations warriors, and Upper Canadian militiamen joined forces to defend against the United States during the War of 1812. The infamous Battle of York that took place here marked a dark and dramatic chapter in the city's history. The site offers an immersive multimedia experience that brings the past to life. Fort York aims to include Indigenous narratives and stories, drawing from primary sources such as military records, letters, memoirs, and oral accounts. This adds a valuable perspective to our understanding of the individuals from historically deserving communities who played a pivotal role in the defence of York (Toronto) and Upper Canada during the war.Overall, my visit to Fort York was a truly enlightening and enriching experience. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly, and the exhibits were thoughtfully curated. I highly recommend a visit to this historical gem in the heart of Toronto!

Went to Fort York with Family between xmas and NYE. We were all surprised how much fun it was - the historic buildings and displays are great for all ages - in our case, from 76 to 9. Was not crowded at all, like a surprise oasis right downtown. Fresh air, history, fantastic brickwork and barrels of gunpowder; a great afternoon. As an added bonus, totally free - just walked up the stairs from the Bentway and in through the fort gates (entrance right at the end of the Bentway skating path in winter). Has its own (paid) parking area under the Gardiner Expressway, near the entrance. A simple, low pressure family downtown destination. Has washrooms and a gift shop. A destination that is neither commercialized nor stuffy. Note - the paths/lawns between buildings are prone to swarming by wild geese when we were there - robust footwear recommended.Also - we were surprised to find the historic buildings all heated, a real bonus in winter. They gave us gingerbread that had been baked on site just before we arrived, and a great impromptu chat about the historic kitchen. Most of the buildings were not staffed (just displays), but the staff we did meet were great.

Came to visit during an open house day (where it is free admission!!). This little gem is surrounded by highways and condos, but the grounds itself are well kept. Get ready to walk into these historic buildings and get a whiff of the old timey smells. And if you’re lucky, you’ll smell some burning fire food which will lead you to the kitchen where one of the staff is recreating food from a very old cook book! There’s a small gift shop that offers beverages at the beginning, and they offer guided tours. My fave part was probably solo exploring and learning about the old school ammunition used (there was a grape shaped ammo for canons) and looking down the barrels of large rifles. Well worth a quick visit to learn a bit more about Fort York!

Interesting historical site, glad they've preserved some original buildings! Be sure to visit the small visitor center as well. I spent about 2hrs here as I read most of the exhibits fully. Can't beat a museum site with free admission :)

Wonderful experience, nice tour, great maintenance of this place. Recommend for a afternoon family trip!

Love this place and all the green on the land. Lots to do here for festivals. Or just come and sit for a picnic.

A beautiful historical site to visit. The entry is free and you learn a lot. A must visit!Fort York constituted the primary defensive position in early York (Toronto). The present buildings erected between 1813 and 1815 to replace those destroyed during theAmerican occupations of York in 1813, are among the oldest in Toronto important surviving examples of British militaryarchitecture. At the turn of the 20th century. the fort was threatened with demolition. The fight to save it led to one of the first victories of the Canadian heritage movement. The fort was bought by the city in 1909 and restored between 1932 and 1934 as part of Toronto's centennial celebration.

I recently visited Fort York and it was such an incredible experience. The historical significance of the place is truly remarkable. It was fascinating to learn about the role it played in defending Toronto during the War of 1812. The staff were so knowledgeable and friendly, making the visit even more enjoyable. I highly recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area.

Pleasant, informative, well-preserved/restored. Free guided tour with a well-informed historian every hour. Free activity. From an American perspective, it presents a slightly different viewpoint of the War of 1812 and the other immigration and border conflicts btw US and Canada. For example, the museum mentions there were almost 500,000 US troops (presumably including all militia, regular troops, and I'm not sure what else operating in N. America as well as the Navy) and then maybe 10000 Canadian militia, 1000 First Nation warriors and a few thousand British regulars. Not really in context. The Museum also doesn't really present the fact that the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution included the area the British wanted to make into a First Nation homeland - which would have all come from US territory, none from Canadian/British. It also features a panel depicting the various invasions on both sides but fails to mention the Battle of New Orleans and US occupation of Florida (where we get the name Jacksonville - look it up). So, a bit lopsided presentation. The Royal Ontario Museum has basically a limited version of this. Also depicts immigration without mentioning the fact there is, according to the Washington Post, net immigration out of Canada into the US. It does mention the US Civil War and Confederate attacks originating from Canada to attack the Union while at the same time emphasizing the roll Black Canadians played in resisting US and other rebellions (i.e., Mackenzie revolt) in Canada. Little inconsistency, there right?