Two of Chatham-Kent’s historic sites are officially open for the 2026 summer season, with programming, exhibits and family activities planned at both Milner Heritage House in Chatham and Ridge House Museum in Ridgetown.
At Milner Heritage House, visitors are invited to explore life as it was in 1905 through guided tours of the historic home. The site is also featuring a seasonal exhibit, Specimens & Storytellers: Local Birds through Science & Art, which highlights Chatham-Kent’s natural heritage through artifacts from the CK Museum collection, including historic taxidermy and hand-carved waterfowl decoys, alongside photography by local naturalist Herman Geithoorn. The exhibit is presented in partnership with NatureCK.
The museum will be open for drop-in visitors from June 3 to Aug. 30, Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with admission by donation.
Milner Heritage House will also temporarily close on select weekends in July and August to host Escape the Milner House: The Mystery of the Midnight Ball, an interactive escape room-style program featuring what organizers describe as “a puzzling scandal, a trail of clues, and a mystery so deliciously dramatic that only the sharpest minds may solve it.” Registration is available through the municipality’s website at https://www.chatham-kent.ca/CKMuseum.
Milner Heritage House is located at 59 William Street North in Chatham. More information is available through @CKMunicipalMuseums on social media or at https://www.chatham-kent.ca/MilnerHouse.
Meanwhile, Ridge House Museum is also open for the summer season, offering visitors a look at middle-class life in 1875 through guided tours, along with access to the Discovery Den and outdoor exhibits. The site’s grounds include a Pollinator Patch featuring Ontario native plants and heritage flowers, developed in partnership with the Ridgetown & District Horticultural Society.
The Discovery Den includes interactive exhibits such as Sculpted by Ice, which explores the impact of the Wisconsin glacial episode and the geological history of the Ridgetown area, as well as displays featuring Ice Age megafauna.
The museum will also host two special community events this summer, including Dominion Day on June 27 and Frozen Fest on Aug. 22, both running from 1 to 4 p.m.
Children aged 6 to 12 can also participate in half-day Discovery Camps, which include activities focused on Ice Age animals, fossils, crafts and survival themes from prehistoric times. Each session is priced at $16 per child, and families may register for multiple weeks. The program is supported through sponsorship from The Andersons’ Inc.
Ridge House Museum is open for drop-in visitors from June 3 to Aug. 30, Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with admission by donation.
Ridge House Museum is located at 53 Erie Street South in Ridgetown. More information is available at https://www.chatham-kent.ca/ridgehouse or through @CKMunicipalMuseums on social media.
