Heritage Events

Doors Open Peterborough

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Every year in September, buildings and sites not normally open to the public welcome visitors as part of Doors Open Peterborough. Peterborough’s event is part of Doors Open Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust and funded by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) as an opportunity for community engagement and education on our built heritage.

The Doors Open program originated in France in 1984 and since 2002, this annual celebration of heritage and culture has allowed us to see inside everything from the Peterborough Lift Lock, City hydro generating stations, Victorian mansions and modern architectural gems such as Trent University. We also offer guided tours highlighting the city’s historical, architectural, and social history.

Peterborough is a small city, but its heritage is rich, its community is vibrant, and its neighbourhoods are diverse. Doors Open Peterborough is always looking for new places that tell Peterborough’s stories through the sites and voices of the community.

Doors Open Peterborough 2026 will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sites and walking tours

The sites for this year's event are:

• Auburn Generating Station, 908 Water St.
• City of Peterborough Organics Facility, 1260 Bensfort Rd., Otonabee-South Monaghan 
• City of Peterborough Water Treatment Plant, 1230 Water St. N.
• City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant, 425 Kennedy Rd.
• Hospice Peterborough, 325 London St.
• Murray Street Baptist Church, 175 Murray St.
• Old Peterborough Examiner Building, 416 Chambers St.
• Peterborough & County Military Museum, 220 Murray St.
• Sadleir House, 751 George St. N.
• Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. N.
• St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 99 Brock St.
• Camp Kawartha Straw Bale Sleeping Cabin, 1010 Birchview Rd., Douro-Dummer

Please note: The cabin at Camp Kawartha has a different viewing schedule than the other locations. It is only available to view on Sunday, September 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Closed toed footwear is required for most sites.

Those interested in local history are invited to join local historians for guided walking tours on Saturday, September 12:

• Little Lake Cemetery Walking Tour, 915 Haggart St.: Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Inverlea Bridge to Goose Pond Walking Tour, Entrance of the Rotary Greenway Trail off Parkhill Rd. E. across from Auburn St.: Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

For full site descriptions, please visit the Doors Open Ontario website, doorsopenontario.on.ca.

For the latest on Doors Open Peterborough, follow HeritagePTBO on Facebook (HeritagePTBO) and Instagram (@heritageptbo).

Interested in volunteering?

Doors Open Peterborough relies on community volunteers to help welcome visitors, provide information at participating sites, and support the success of the event. Individuals interested in learning more about local heritage and contributing to this popular community event are encouraged to volunteer. To learn more, or to sign up, contact heritage@peterborough.ca.

Heritage Hunt

Each year, the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC)'s presents the Heritage Hunt.

Residents are invited to test their knowledge of Peterborough’s architectural heritage for the chance to win great local prizes. The contest involves identifying architectural details on buildings in a defined area of the city.

Keep an eye on Facebook (HeritagePTBO) and Instagram (@heritageptbo) for the answers to the 2025 Hunt and future updates.

House History Workshop

The House History Workshop features an overview of helpful tools, resources, and strategies for researching the history of your house – whether it is a rental, your family home, or even just a house you’ve always walked past and wanted to learn more about. At the workshop, you’ll learn about what heritage is and how it relates to the world around us. You’ll also learn how to use local resources to find the information you’re looking for. Friendly experts from local and county libraries, archives, and museums will be on hand to discuss what’s in their collections and how to access them.

The skills and resources you’ll learn about at the House History Workshop will be incredibly useful to anyone interested in history, architecture, archaeology, arts and culture, environment and nature, Indigenous Studies, and urban planning and development. Whether you’re starting your first year at Trent or enjoying retirement, now is the time to start exploring your community’s history! 

This workshop is free. Stay tuned for information about upcoming workshops.

Friendly experts from Trent University, The Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough Museum & Archives, Trent Valley Archives, and the City’s Heritage Preservation Office were present to discuss what’s in their collections and how to access them.

The House History Workshop aims to inspire attendees to start their own research projects using the knowledge gained in the workshop.

You do not need to live in or own a heritage home to participate. Prior research experience is not necessary. Get ready to start exploring!