The Heritage Around 100 Bond

Downtown Oshawa was not always a dynamic and fast-paced place. The rich history of the region has seen different periods, from the ancestral Wendat people in the 1400s to its development as a manufacturing centre (remember McLaughlin Carriage Works?). Some places from these and other historical periods are still present and enrich the space where we live.

Parkwood National Historic Site

Parkwood National Historic Site is one of the most beautiful mansions in the entire province of Ontario. Best known as the residence of Canadian auto magnate Colonel Robert Samuel McLaughlin, this 55-room, 15,000-square-foot mansion is a prime example of Beaux-Arts design blended with a Classical Revival style.

In 1989, Parkwood was officially designated a National Historic Site of Canada and is now open to visitors.

Today, it is a popular sightseeing spot and is also used as a filming location. The X-Men mansion scenes were shot there, as well as scenes for the recent series The Umbrella Academy. Parkwood National Historic Site hosts many seasonal vendor markets, workshops, and tours, so you can satisfy both cultural and recreational interests by visiting it.

Canadian Automotive Museum

Following the automotive theme, the Canadian Automotive Museum (CAM) could be nowhere else but in the Automotive Capital of Canada, Oshawa. Indeed, Oshawa’s automotive heritage is recognized on the national level.

Today, the museum’s collection of over 80 vehicles is open to visitors through different exhibits and tours. It is definitely worth checking out.

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery

Named after Colonel McLaughlin, mentioned above, this place is not only an industrial successor but also a well-rounded art platform.

Yes, Oshawa’s history is tied to automobiles, which is reflected in The Thomas Bouckley Collection of 3,500 photographs, showing the visual history of Oshawa, which, of course, includes factory workers’ lives and scenes of General Motors plants.

But the city’s more artistic side is also shown. For example, the works of Painters Eleven, a Canadian abstract art group, are the heart of the collection. This demonstrates Oshawa’s dual nature. It shows how the industrial base served as a bridge toward fostering a cultural layer, helping to create the city’s rich cultural legacy.