Whitehern Historic House & Garden

Whitehern Historic House & Garden, a National Historic Site was the former home of three generations of the McQuesten Family (1852-1968) of Hamilton, Ontario.

Prominently situated in a walled terraced garden, Whitehern is an outstanding example of an urban estate originally owned by a wealthy industrialist. The house today has a multi-layered character that reflects the alterations made by three generations of the McQuestens over the years as well as the family's shared interest in literature, history and gardening. It contains elements from many time periods - Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian - all overlaid with family possessions dating up to the death of the last family member in 1968.

Outstanding family contributions include: the establishment of 'McQuesten & Co.', the first iron foundry in Hamilton (later known as the 'Sawyer-Massey Co'); the development of the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and the Rainbow Bridge (in Niagara Falls); the establishment of McMaster University in Hamilton; the restorations of Old Fort Henry, Joseph Brant Museum and Fort George; and participation in the development of the Niagara Parks.

Renseignements sur les collections

The contents of Whitehern constitute an intact "assemblage" of domestic material culture uncontaminated by furnishings introduced from other households. In fact the Whitehern collection is solely made up of the family's original personal possessions including: their letters, documents, photographs, art, books, toys, furniture, dishes, carpets, clothing, light fixtures and wallcoverings. Essentially, Whitehern remains as it did when the family last lived here.

Nombre approximatif d'objets ou de spécimens dans la collection : 30,000+

Archives

Portions of the letters and photographs in the collection are available online at http://www.whitehern.ca

Electronic Records • Manuscripts • Photographs

Arts décoratifs

Ceramics, Porcelain or Pottery • Costumes • Furniture or Furnishings • Glass • Metalwork, Silverwork or Goldwork • Textiles or Tapestries

Beaux-arts

Culture :
Canadian

Média : Photography

Divers :
Folk Art

Histoire humaine

Furniture or Furnishings • Household Objects or Domestic Technology • Local History • Toys and Games

Sciences naturelles

Collections biologiques ou plantes et animaux
Agricultural or Domestic • Living Collections • Botany : Vascular Plants : Seed Plants

Services

Guided tours with costumed staff illustrate the changing domestic lifestyle of a Victorian family entering the 20th Century. Highlighted in these tours are the significant McQuesten contributions within their community and its surroundings. Group bookings and a wide variety of educational programmes, lectures, workshops and special events are also available.

Services de recherche

Archival Records

Programmes Éducatifs

Whitehern Historic House & Garden offers Educational Programmes specially geared for children (Kindergarten to Grade 8); young adults (High School); adults (College & University Level); and ESL (children to seniors).

Special Education Programmes are also offered to the Girl Guides of Canada & Scouts Canada.

Classes or Workshops • Family Programs • School Programs : Age 5-11 (k-6) : Age 12-17 (7-13)(Quebec: Secondary 1-CEGEP) : Age 18 and up (Post-Secondary) • Seniors Programs • Professional Development
Autre : "McQuesten's Childhood Christmas" (All Ages) Offered mid-November to early-January.

"An Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Experience" (All Ages) Offered all year except during "Christmas" season.

"ESL" (All Ages) Offered all year.

"Work & Play" (K - Grade 1) Offered all year except during "Christmas" season.

"Secret Garden" (K - Grade 3) Offered spring, summer and autumn.

"Liesure, Fun & Games" (Grades 2 - 8) Offered all year except during "Christmas" season.

"Changing Domestic Technologies" - with elements of WWI (Grades 5 - 8; High School) Offered all year except during "Christmas" season.



Girl Guides of Canada:
Sparks }
Brownies } All of the above appropriate to age group
Guides }


Scouts of Canada:
Beavers }
Cubs } All of the above appropriate to age group
Scouts }

Information aux Visiteurs

Guided Tours : English • Accessible by Public Transportation • Parking Facilities : Charged • Washrooms

Services de bénévoles

Volunteer Services Available

Nombre de bénévoles : 30

Tâches : Special events

Services de restauration

Picnic Area

Services Internet

General Information • Collections • Events • Virtual Exhibitions • Education • Children • Directions or Map • Local History

Liens touristiques locaux

Local Attractions

Publications et produits

Brochures • Postcards

Images en vedette

Carte

Consultez le site Web

Emplacement

Adresse :	41 Jackson Street West Hamilton, Ontario L8P 1L3 Voir la carte
Téléphone :	905-546-2018
Télécopieur :	905-546-4933
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