Doors Open Peterborough Offers 12 Unique Sites to Explore this September
Peterborough, ON – Whether it is exploring a historic generating station or visiting a modern hospice, Doors Open Peterborough is offering an exciting opportunity to discover some of the community's most interesting sites, free of charge!
This year's Doors Open event will take place on Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature a dozen sites and two guided historic walks, giving participants a chance to explore buildings and spaces that are not always open to the public.
This year’s event expands beyond places that are significant for their architectural heritage and features five new stops: City of Peterborough Organics Facility, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hospice Peterborough, Old Peterborough Examiner building and Camp Kawartha.
The full list of sites for 2026 Doors Open Peterborough include:
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Auburn Generating Station, 908 Water St.
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City of Peterborough Organics Facility, 1260 Bensfort Rd.
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City of Peterborough Water Treatment Plant, 1230 Water St. N.
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City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant, 425 Kennedy Rd.
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Hospice Peterborough, 325 London St.
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Murray Street Baptist Church, 175 Murray St.
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Old Peterborough Examiner Building, 419 George St. N.
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The Peterborough & County Military Museum, 220 Murray St.
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Sadleir House, 751 George St. N.
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Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. N.
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St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 99 Brock St.
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Camp Kawartha Straw Bale Sleeping Cabin, 1010 Birchview Rd., Douro-Dummer Township
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.
Those interested in local history can also join guided historic walks led by local historians on Saturday, September 12 (rain or shine):
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Little Lake Cemetery, 915 Haggart St.: Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Parking is available on Haggart Street and Crescent Street. Discover the meanings of gravestone symbols and the history of iconic memorials in the final resting place of some of Peterborough’s most prominent citizens.
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Inverlea Bridge to Goose Pond (Tours meet at the entrance of the Rotary Greenway Trail off Parkhill Road East across from Auburn Street): Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Parking is available along Auburn Street. Built in ‘City Beautiful’ style in 1910, what was initially called Black’s Bridge was the first reinforced concrete bridge in Peterborough. Originally a toll bridge, it linked Ashburnham with Goose Pond railway hamlet.
About Doors Open Peterborough:
Doors Open Peterborough is a city-wide event held each September that provides free public access to private and public buildings of cultural, architectural and historical significance. Doors Open Peterborough is part of the province-wide Doors Open Ontario program, presented in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust and funded by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC).
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.
For more information about the event, including descriptions of this year’s sites and a list of what you may need to bring on the tour, visit peterborough.ca/DoorsOpen.