Royal Canadian Regiment Museum: Historic Wolseley Barracks Tour
London, Canada
Trip Type: Museum Tickets & Passes
Duration: Flexible
Enjoy a tour of historic Wolseley Barracks, home of The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum. The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum tells the story of Canada’s senior Infantry Regiment. The museum is located in Wolseley Barracks, purposely-built military architecture in 1886-1888 by the Dominion Government to house the «D» Company of the Infantry School Corps.
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Enjoy a tour of historic Wolseley Barracks, home of The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum. The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum tells the story of Canada’s senior Infantry Regiment. The museum is located in Wolseley Barracks, purposely-built military architecture in 1886-1888 by the Dominion Government to house the «D» Company of the Infantry School Corps.
Discover one of London, Ontario's best-kept secrets and explore one of Canada's finest regimental museums!
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum tells the story of Canada’s first Infantry Regiment with the permanent force. The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) began as the Infantry School Corps (21 December, 1883) and evolved to four battalions located at Garrison Petwawa, ON, Garrison Gagetown, NB and London, ON. The RCR has a lineage back to 1863-64, when militia units were raised in Woodstock and London, ON.
The RCR Museum is one of the oldest Canadian museums. On June 2, 1886, the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada approved in its fourth session – fifth parliament, an expenditure of $30,000 for the London Infantry School. The works were eventually placed under the care of Henry James (1839 – 1893), the Chief Architect for the Militia Department. By the end of 1888, the construction was completed and the troops took quarters. The 1886 floor plans show a room specially designated to become a museum, adjacent to a “reading room” and to an office for the “professor”. No other armories or military buildings erected in Canada included such a designation before. Successive renovation projects brought the museum to today’s footprint, occupying the entire west wing of the historic building.
The museum collection is vast and includes a large variety of artifacts: regimental memorials, silverware, uniforms, medals, original art, weapons, military equipment, archives, musical instruments, etc. The museum welcomes visitors in the old archway entrance. An expanded permanent gallery and a costumer friendly gift shop are high profile attractions in the city of London, ON. Attractive programs, high standard visitor services and events are scheduled year-round.
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum tells the story of Canada’s first Infantry Regiment with the permanent force. The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) began as the Infantry School Corps (21 December, 1883) and evolved to four battalions located at Garrison Petwawa, ON, Garrison Gagetown, NB and London, ON. The RCR has a lineage back to 1863-64, when militia units were raised in Woodstock and London, ON.
The RCR Museum is one of the oldest Canadian museums. On June 2, 1886, the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada approved in its fourth session – fifth parliament, an expenditure of $30,000 for the London Infantry School. The works were eventually placed under the care of Henry James (1839 – 1893), the Chief Architect for the Militia Department. By the end of 1888, the construction was completed and the troops took quarters. The 1886 floor plans show a room specially designated to become a museum, adjacent to a “reading room” and to an office for the “professor”. No other armories or military buildings erected in Canada included such a designation before. Successive renovation projects brought the museum to today’s footprint, occupying the entire west wing of the historic building.
The museum collection is vast and includes a large variety of artifacts: regimental memorials, silverware, uniforms, medals, original art, weapons, military equipment, archives, musical instruments, etc. The museum welcomes visitors in the old archway entrance. An expanded permanent gallery and a costumer friendly gift shop are high profile attractions in the city of London, ON. Attractive programs, high standard visitor services and events are scheduled year-round.
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