Galleries and Exhibits

The Heritage Centre showcases exhibits to learn about the history of Richmond Hill and more. 

Gallery Hours:
Tuesdays 1 – 4 p.m.
Thursdays 4 - 8 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Yonge Street Gallery 

Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe officially established Yonge Street in the 1790s. Yonge Street opened up the northern part of York County for settlement, positioning Richmond Hill as an essential stopping point along the two-day journey. The town owes much of its development to its location along this “Main Street”.

Community Gallery

In the early 1800s, most people knew everyone in the village. People worked hard, with little rest — except on Sundays when they attended church and socialized with neighbours. By the next century, people had more leisure time. Labour-saving devices lightened workloads and new cleaning materials reduced housework, making it easier for women to work outside the home. As the village grew, so did modern services. Let’s discover our community.

History Room 

Enjoy a trip through time starting with the earliest inhabitants in the area moving through the centuries to the city of Richmond Hill we know today. Interactive pop-up panels encourage creative thinking as you meander through this exhibit.

South Gallery 

This is a gallery of change that showcases changing exhibits from our Heritage Services team, the community and travelling exhibitions that inspire and connect through cultural heritage.

Featured Exhibit in the South Gallery

Queen Victoria’s Secret

The period of Queen Victoria’s rule (1837 – 1901) was a time of considerable change and innovation. The Queen was an influencer with a tremendous impact on everything from holiday celebrations and family life, to clothing and fashion. It is believed that she introduced the white wedding gown, which is commonplace today.

Queen Victoria’s Secrets explores the various changes in the way Victorian middle-class women dressed. The exhibit includes textiles and objects from the Richmond Hill Artifact Collection, with a focus on undergarments that were designed to enable women to achieve the desired and fashionable silhouette – complimenting dress-style changes.

A variety of fabrics, colours and patterns, including paisley, were introduced in this era as Queen Victoria became a figurehead for middle-class respectability. As outerwear became more elaborate, women continued to adorn their undergarments—usually plain linen or cotton—with needlework and coloured thread for personal enjoyment. Styles became more accessible to middle and working-class women with the advent of the sewing machine and the printed pattern.

Queen Victoria’s Secrets exhibit on display at the Richmond Hill Heritage Centre from May 7 to July 30, 2024. For further information, please contact the Heritage Coordinator at heritageservices@richmondhill.ca.