Gibson House Museum image

Gibson House Museum

Tourist attraction Historical landmark History museum

1851 home built by one of Toronto's early surveyors, with tours, croquet & a community quilt group. People often mention tour, guide, museum, history, staff, time, knowledgeable, Gibson, house, friendly,


Address

5172 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N 5P6, Canada

Website

www.toronto.ca

Contact

+1 416-395-7432

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (224 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 11 am to 4 pm
  • Thursday: 11 am to 4 pm
  • Friday: 11 am to 4 pm
  • Saturday: 11 am to 4 pm
  • Sunday: 11 am to 4 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: tour (22) guide (17) museum (14) history (12) staff (10) time (10) knowledgeable (9) Gibson (9) house (8) friendly (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Margaret A. 2 years ago on Google • 100 reviews
    We had the entire place to ourselves. Sam our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable of Gibson House and the family that previously lived here. We learned valuable information of the area and the era of the house. The staff were very helpful and professional. They are abiding by health and safety protocols. We were given ginger bread on our way out. Thank you so much! I highly recommend coming here, the tour is about an hour.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Natalie D. 4 years ago on Google • 116 reviews
    An absolutely lovely experience at the Gibson House Museum. They have the kindest ladies working there, Diane at the front, Jennifer in the kitchen and Sheena (sorry if I spelled your name incorrectly) giving a tour of the house. Went there on a Saturday and these three ladies gave my niece and I so much one on one. A beautiful experience in the kitchen, having tea (Jennifer even warmed the tea cup and saucer by the fire) and watching the baking process with recipes from cook books over a hundred years old, then the tasting, so delicious! I think you guys should sell your baked goods, they would be a big seller. All staff are very knowledgeable and do not rush you through your visit.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Roman 7 months ago on Google • 374 reviews
    The Museum is small, but so worth it. The staff members are so friendly, devoted and entertaining! Absolute pleasure to spend some time there!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshua L. 1 year ago on Google • 11 reviews
    Came here from Florida and honestly, this is one of the best tours I’ve ever had! Our tour guide was awesome! 10/10 what an incredible experience!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laura N. 4 years ago on Google
    Gibson House is a beautiful home and museum ! My friend and I had Meredith as our guide and she was an incredible historian and very personable ! We were allowed to explore the second floor on our own which was great ! We ended off the tour with a spot of tea and some delicious baking! We both enjoyed our time here and would gladly reccomend taking this step back in time and learning a little bit more of the history of North York / Toronto.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joseph C. 11 months ago on Google
    Imagine once upon a time (1850s), there was a 100 acre farm around this house, and not a single condo or traffic jam in site. Richard our tour guide (who grown up in the area) walk us back in the time tunnel, provided us the experience about life a century ago. So glad we learnt something new (no pun intended) about North York. Thank you Richard.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Christine N. 4 years ago on Google
    Great little historical museum in the heart of north york. We went this past sunday and kids really enjoyed learning about how they cooked in the 17th and 18th century, learned to play croquet, and enjoyed watering the outdoor garden. Lots of games organized in bins inside too.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Benchpress K. 1 year ago on Google • 140 reviews
    Great place to learn Canadian history. All the staff there are so welcoming and knowledgeable. A hidden gem in North yonge street

  • 5/5 Rebecca A. 4 months ago on Google • 124 reviews
    The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The history of the family who occupied the farmhouse was most informative. Enjoyed seeing the period furnishings, toys, and clothing. Also enjoyed trying out the spinning wheel.

  • 5/5 Julie H. 1 year ago on Google • 13 reviews
    My family and I love museums, and this one was no exception. A wonderful little place to stop by and learn some local history.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jackie S. 2 months ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    We visited Gibson House Museum on Jan 21, 2024, and had the pleasure of receiving the most informative and interesting tour by James. He was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable, and friendly. He exuded enthusiasm for history and really made our experience one of a kind. All the staff at the museum were welcoming and helpful. We look forward to coming back and encourage anyone looking to learn about and experience a unique piece of Toronto history to visit the museum. Thank you!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tanuj P. 1 year ago on Google
    The museum is so beautiful, it feels as if you have time travelled into the past. The staff are so friendly and guide you through the house. They know so much and are so welcoming and fun. Their events like the October pumpkin parade are so fun too. They also run excellent day camps on PA days and excellent summer camps for children. It is a wonderful place to visit and check out :)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tom N. 5 years ago on Google
    Really wonderful 3500 sq. ft. Farm house built in 1851. It sits in lovely meadow now surrounded by high rise condos. Located just a few minutes walk north of the North York Central subway line #1. Excellent explanatory notes to tell the Gibson House self-guided story. Also a small museum with interesting rotating displays is attached where the barn once was.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sarah D. 7 months ago on Google
    Great little museum! We had the best, most enthusiastic tour guide I have ever encountered and he was such a treasure! He made the house feel alive with all the stories and information he gave us. Thank you so much!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Isabelle H. 4 years ago on Google
    Loved this workshop on Scottish Cookery. Great teacher and wonderful group. We made a great team cooking creations from the 1800's. Looking forward to future workshops!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mariya Z. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely great and amazing. We went there with kids over the holidays. Our tour guide was absolutely amazing! He knew a lot of information and made the tour very interesting and engaging. We will definetly visit again over the summer!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kate B. 4 years ago on Google • 66 reviews
    Had a lovely time visiting, getting a tour, a demonstration of cherry pitting to make sour cherry syrup and got to taste their marmalade ice cream which was delicious. Hearing about the history of the house, the Gibson family and the area was very interesting.

  • 5/5 駄目人間徐雅润 11 months ago on Google • 14 reviews
    The best front desk and tour guide tell you everything they know about this historical building, and they welcome all your questions.

  • 5/5 Rick E. 1 year ago on Google
    We had a great time learning about the Gibson family and life during settler colonialism in Canada. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate. He was even able to tie some of the history of the Gibson family to areas closer to where we call home as he covered David Gibson’s surveying of Goderich. There were only a few of us on the tour and it was well worth the visit. Would love to do it again!

  • 5/5 Raman K. 1 year ago on Google
    I was recently in the area and visited this attraction. We met the tour guide at the entrance who gave us a brief tour. The museum is basically a 200 years old house of a well know Scottish family. It gives a glimpse of what upper class living was back at that time. The artifacts, furniture and the home itself has been very well preserved. The tour guide was very courteous and knowledgeable.

  • 4/5 Joe C. 4 years ago on Google
    Cool to see historical home. The staff is great at explaining how old kitchen works.

  • 5/5 Kai 9 months ago on Google
    Nice heritage place in the middle if uptown that provides a good perspective of the lives of early settlers. Also nice that it's free!

  • 5/5 Melony D. 4 years ago on Google
    Fantastic Museum with amazing programs all year round. Something for everyone. Fantastic staff that make this museum come to life! Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Grace M. 1 year ago on Google
    The museum is a gem in North York. The guided tour was fantastic. We caught a glimpse of life in Toronto in the 19th century. The guide (Oana) was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. James, another staff member, was also ready to answer our questions. I hope more people will take advantage of the museum to appreciate the contribution of the pioneers to our wonderful city. Highly recommended.

  • 5/5 Nate 1 year ago on Google
    Went in today. Was pleasantly surprised with the tour. Learned a lot and the guides were also very friendly and knowledgeable. And there was also no admission fee which was a bonus.

  • 5/5 Kelly S. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely love this place! Great as a little museum in the city but the best is for anyone that has young children. They have camps every year! Educational, creative and lots of fun! They grow a vegetable garden every year and make their own jams etc. Check it out!

  • 3/5 RSH D. 2 years ago on Google
    A historical museum in a condo jungle. Unpredictable hours and locked doors make it that more memorable. Run by the City of Toronto. Minutes away from Empress Walk & North York Centre Subway Station.

  • 5/5 Martha E. 1 year ago on Google
    Cannot recommend this place enough! Really fun & informative tour from probably the most enthusiastic guide I've ever had. We learned so much & had a great time!

  • 5/5 Anne S. 1 year ago on Google
    An amazing Toronto resource. Very knowledgable and compassionate interpreters ready to discuss history, colonialism and settlement of the 19th Century but also more recent human migrations. What a treasure to have available for residents and visitors!

  • 5/5 Nivin I. 1 year ago on Google
    Its an amazing site with a rich history. Most importantly, the passion with which Jennifer, one of the onsite city reps explained the house's history and its significance in Toronto was awesome to listen to. A must visit if in and around North York.

  • 5/5 US Y. 1 year ago on Google
    very detailed and knowlegable instruction by the tour guide. I also tried to use the loom under his guide. Thanks very much and the free trip is truely beyond my expectation.

  • 5/5 Montmorency 1 year ago on Google
    Such a beautiful place! Thanks to the guides for a amazing tour and for the opportunity to try weaving at the loom yourself, awesome!

  • 5/5 jisun l. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice to see and learn the life back in 1800s.

  • 5/5 William J. 5 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    The museum is a small but charming institution that offers a glimpse into the building and its history. The museum's staff are friendly and eager to share their knowledge. If you are in the area, you should come to visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍


Call +1 416-395-7432 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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