Tours
We offer a variety of public tours for your service club, church group, or community program at the City of Waterloo Museum, in Mount Hope Cemetery, and online! See below for details.
At the Museum
Bring your service club, church group, or community program to the Museum for a guided tour of the current exhibition. Our exhibitions change regularly so check out our What's On and What's Next pages to find out what will be on during your visit.
These tours are approximately 1 hour and can be geared toward your community group's needs.
Fee: $5 per person
Max: 20 people
In the Cemetery
Join Museum staff at Mount Hope Cemetery for a guided tour of Waterloo’s oldest community cemetery. In 1865, the councils of Waterloo and Berlin (Kitchener) decided to form a joint committee to investigate having a large community cemetery overlap between the two municipalities. A year later in September 1866, Waterloo decided to act on its own and purchased seven acres of land from the Village Reeve and Chairman of the Cemetery Committee, John Hoffman. An additional acre of land was donated by Hoffman to be used as a Free Cemetery. The cemetery opened on January 14, 1867 after the council of Waterloo passed by law 25 which set out the regulations for use; officially creating Mount Hope Cemetery. So let's explore this hidden jewel in Waterloo!
Tours offered below are approximately 1 hour and terrain is sometimes uneven and rough, so travel friendly shoes are recommended.
Fee: $5 per person
Max: 30 people
Themed walks include:
| Dealers in Death |
| From coroners and undertakers to distillers and cigar-makers, these individuals – either directly or indirectly – dealt in death throughout the history of Waterloo. Join museum staff at the cemetery to learn more about these historical dealers in death. |
| J. E. Seagram and Company |
| Most people have heard of Joseph E. Seagram and his distillery business, however, there is so much more to a successful business than just the leader. This tour explores the stories of those who worked behind the scenes building the company and family’s success. |
| Mayors, Movers and Shakers |
| Waterloo’s Mount Hope Cemetery consists of nine acres of landscaped grounds and is the resting place for many people whose lives helped shape this city and community. This walking tour highlights the gravesites of some early notable residents: Mayors, Movers and Shakers. |
| Mishap and Murder |
| Ever wonder what accidental death or a murder scandal looked like in the early days of Waterloo? Over the years we have uncovered some fascinating tales… not for the faint of heart. |
| More than Wives and Daughters |
| Women have traditionally been left out of history. This tour aims to shed some light on the women we know to be distinctive in our local history. These women are, as the title of the tour suggests, much more than the wives and daughters of Waterloo’s movers and shakers of this city. We can only imagine what amazing things these women might have done had they had the same opportunities as their fathers and brothers. |
| School Spirit |
| The little log schoolhouse in Waterloo Park is the oldest standing school house in Ontario. Throughout the tour we will learn more about the students who attended this school, teachers who taught the classes and the trustees who worked behind the scenes. |
| The Ultimate Sacrifice, War Stories from Mount Hope Cemetery |
| Looking for a great way to commemorate Remembrance Day or honour those who fought in the World Wars? This tour through the cemetery will shed some light on stories of local heroes, heroines and brave souls who defended our country in times of need. |
Online
Unable to join us for a tour on location? Check out our free pre-recorded virtual tours below!
| Waterloo’s Rainbow History: 50 Years of Glow |
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Join the City of Waterloo Museum for a virtual walking tour on the University of Waterloo campus as we pay tribute to the origins of the Glow Centre in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Museum assistant Julia Barclay is joined by Jim Parrott, curator of the Grand River Rainbow Historical Project and former Executive Director of SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space, to share the Glow Centre’s history on campus. From its origins in 1970 as Waterloo Universities’ Gay Liberation Movement (WUGLM), through today in its incarnation as the Glow Centre, this tour will share the history of the longest-lived student-led 2SLGBTQ+ group on a Canadian university campus.
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