Inside the Museums views Toronto’s heritage museums for the first time as a single community — linked by events, personalities, and function. In this special excerpt we visit one of the jewels in Toronto’s historical crown: Fort York. This fort was the famous site of the Battle of York in 1813 and was founded in 1793 as a military outpost; it served as a barracks as recently as the First World War and is one of the city’s leading tourist attractions. John Goddard takes us on a detailed tour, providing fascinating historical background and insight.
Heritage Toronto Book Award — Shortlisted, Non-Fiction Book Illuminates Toronto’s early history through its small heritage museums. A portrait of William Lyon Mackenzie stares from a mural at Queen subway station, his face as round and orange as a wheel of cheese. He served as Toronto’s first mayor, led the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, and was grandfather to William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s tenth prime minister, whose own orange-pink visage graces the Canadian fifty-dollar bill. Three blocks from the station, Mackenzie died in the upstairs bedroom of a house now open as a heritage museum, part of a network of such homes and sites from early Toronto. Inside the Museums tells their stories. It explains why Eliza Gibson risked her life to save a clock, reveals the appalling instructions that Robert Baldwin left in his will, and examines how the career of postmaster James Scott Howard shattered on the most baseless of innuendos at one of the most highly charged moments in the city’s history.
This is a ground-breaking study of women -- American, Canadian, British and aboriginal -- who experienced the War of 1812. Dianne Graves distils her years of research in diaries, records, memoirs and correspondence into a colourful examination of the ordeals, tragedies and triumphs of women who endured a conflict wished for by neither of the belligerents. She describes the woman's world of early 19th century North America: courtship and marriage, domestic life, childbirth and employment. Along the way she looks at fashion and clothing, cooking and gardening. She goes on to examine the lives of women whose men were in uniform -- from the wives of senior officers to the camp followers -- and she chronicles the experiences of women caught up in the war, from high society to low life. We meet dozens of fascinating women, among them Dolley Madison, the republic's gracious First Lady, and her counterparts, Catherine Prevost and Lady Sherbrooke, the wives of the senior British commanders. There are famous belles -- the daring Betsy Patterson Bonaparte of Baltimore and the vivacious Julia de Rottenburg of Montreal. We meet Eliza Romley, who, disguised as a man, joins the United States Navy and is captured in action, and Elizabeth Stewart, an American who proves to be an effective British intelligence agent, and 16-year-old Amelia Ryerse, who watches in horror as invaders burn her widowed mother's farm. There are Tecumapease of the Shawnee people and Rachel Jackson, whose personal influence shaped major leaders of the conflict. Finally, there are scores of other women, some nameless, who come to life again in this fascinating and informative work of social history. This is a fascinating examination of the lives of ordinary and extraordinary women and a detailed, well illustrated book that provides a unique insight into the war as experienced by women from all levels of society.
WINNER OF THE HERITAGE TORONTO 2022 BOOK AWARD Rich and diverse narratives of Indigenous Toronto, past and present Beneath many major North American cities rests a deep foundation of Indigenous history that has been colonized, paved over, and, too often, silenced. Few of its current inhabitants know that Toronto has seen twelve thousand years of uninterrupted Indigenous presence and nationhood in this region, along with a vibrant culture and history that thrives to this day. With contributions by Indigenous Elders, scholars, journalists, artists, and historians, this unique anthology explores the poles of cultural continuity and settler colonialism that have come to define Toronto as a significant cultural hub and intersection that was also known as a Meeting Place long before European settlers arrived. "This book is a reflection of endurance and a helpful corrective to settler fantasies. It tells a more balanced account of our communities, then and now. It offers the space for us to reclaim our ancestors’ language and legacy, rewriting ourselves back into a landscape from which non Indigenous historians have worked hard to erase us. But we are there in the skyline and throughout the GTA, along the coast and in all directions." -- from the introduction by Hayden King
Setting a Fine Table is a selection of dessert recipes from historic Fort York in Toronto. The recipes, from the officers' kitchens in the Fort, take you back to a time when food was truly local. The 30 recipes include the original, historic recipe as well as its modern equivalent. Each recipe is introduced by an explanation of why it was chosen, how it would have been used at the Fort in the past and how it is used at the Fort today. With beautiful photographs as well as a bibliography of the historic cookbooks from which the recipes were drawn, this book will appeal to anyone interested in historic cooking and Canadian history.
York's Sacrifice profiles 39 men who lost their lives during the War of 1812. The militia's contribution to the War of 1812 is not well understood. Even now, 200 years later, we don't know how many Upper Canadian militia men died defending their home.
Museums of all kinds – art, history, culture, science centers and heritage sites – are actively engaging with food through exhibitions, collections, and stories about food production, consumption, history, taste, and aesthetics. Food also plays a central role in their food courts, restaurants, cafes, gardens, and gift shops. Food and Museums is the first book to explore the diverse, complex relationship between museums and food. This edited collection features theoretical analysis from cultural historians, anthropologists, neuroscientists, and food studies scholars; interviews with museum professionals, artists and chefs; and critical case studies from a wide range of cultural institutions and museums to establish an interdisciplinary framework for the analysis of the role of food in museums. Exploring the richness and complexity of sensory, cultural, social, and political significance of food today as well as in the past, the book demonstrates how food is changing the current museological landscape. A fascinating look at contemporary museums through the lens of food, this is an essential read for students and researchers in museum studies, food studies, cultural studies, and sensory studies as well as museum and food professionals.
Insight Guides Explore Toronto & Ontario Travel made easy. Ask local experts. Focused travel guide featuring the very best routes and itineraries. Discover the best of Toronto & Ontario with this unique travel guide, packed full of insider information and stunning images. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see, top attractions like Niagara Falls, SkyTower and Royal Ontario Museum, to discovering cultural gems, including feasting on poutine, admiring stunning ceramics at the Gardiner Museum and perusing the delights of Byward Market, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will save you time, and help you plan and enhance your visit to Toronto & Ontario. Features of this travel guide to Toronto & Ontario: - 14 walks and tours: detailed itineraries feature all the best places to visit, including where to eat and drink along the way - Local highlights: discover the area's top attractions and unique sights, and be inspired by stunning imagery - Historical and cultural insights: immerse yourself in Toronto & Ontario's rich history and culture, and learn all about its people, art and traditions - Insider recommendations: discover the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife using our comprehensive listings - Practical full-colour maps: with every major sight and listing highlighted, the full-colour maps make on-the-ground navigation easy - Covers: Toronto City Highlights, Toronto's lakeshore and Fort York, Toronto Downtown, Toronto's Historic Heart, Grand Toronto along University Avenue, The AGO, Toronto Islands, North Toronto - Casa Loma and vicinity, Toronto with Children, Niagara Falls, Kingston Highlights, Ottawa Highlights, Seven Sound and Georgian Bay, Southwest Ontario, Lake Huron and Stratford Looking for a comprehensive guide to Toronto & Ontario? Check out Insight Guides Canada for a detailed and entertaining look at all the country has to offer. About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.
This multi-functional reference is a useful tool to find information about history-related organizations and programs and to contact those working in history across the country.
