The McDougall Mill Museum holds three packed floors of artifacts, many from Renfrew’s early Industrial days when the town was home to: Renfrew Electric –maker of Canadian Beauty Appliances, Renfrew Refrigerator Company –ice boxes, Renfrew Machinery –Acorn stoves, Renfrew Flour Mills the Renfrew Creamery and many other industries. 

The third Floor houses a decorative military display, Victorian clothing, a Charlotte Whitton display, nurses in war display, quilts, children`s clothing  and a wedding dress gallery.A doll collection, glass ware, children`s toys, a kitchen, a player piano, Renfrew memorabilia, hundreds of household articles, and a feature display fill every corner of our second floor.The first floor contains one of the most extensive collections of farming equipment and pioneer tools in Ontario, along with a few treasures for railway enthusiasts, cook and heating stoves, household appliances, and a dairy display.

Although the majority of the museum’s artifacts celebrate local history, which is the museum`s mandate, we also exhibit items donated by valley natives from travels around Canada and exotic locales abroad; A six foot long Narwhal tusk, and  Polar bear skin from Doctor Leslie David Livingstone are examples of these.

Our most celebrated artifact is the museum itself. This beautiful stone mill was built in 1855 by fur trader and Hudson’s Bay Company agent, John Lorne McDougall. Used originally as a grist mill, then by M.J. O`Brien as storage for his adjacent wool mills, the building was renovated and reopened as a museum in 1969. Situated in picturesque O’Brien Park the mill cradles the second chute of the Bonnechere River and overlooks the town’s historic Swinging Bridge.

There truly is something for every different interest to explore in our extensive, eclectic, expanding collection.

Open Daily, mid June through August
Tours welcomed by appointment.
Off season, contact:
Renfrew Chamber of Commerce
613.432.7015