Spadina House Toronto
A visit to the outstanding Spadina Museum Historic House and Gardens in Toronto will transport you back to another era
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In Toronto there is an outstanding museum that totally gives one the feeling that time is standing still in the era of the 1920s and 30s when things were simpler in one way and harder in another — a time when neighbours knew, trusted and helped one another. While lesser known than its larger neighbour Casa Loma, Spadina Museum Historic House and Gardens are equally and perhaps even more worthy of your time.
Spadina House has a long and interesting history. In 1866 James Austin, founder and president of the Dominion Bank and Consumers Gas, and his wife Susan had purchased the 80 acre property for $14,000 at an auction. They built the current mansion on the foundations of the pre-existing Baldwin home that was named Spadina and kept the same name for their new home. The name Spadina comes from a native word espadinong meaning hill.
During 1887-1892 he subdivided and sold parcels of his sought after land making around $200,000 a very abundant profit.
Amid the 19th and early 20th century this desired area became the home to many of Toronto's wealthiest families living on huge estates making it the richest neighbourhood in all of Toronto.
After James Austin passed away in 1897 his son Albert inherited the estate with 20 acres of land. Albert and his wife Mary greatly expanded the house adding a number of new rooms and altering it significantly with many renovations, including a grand third floor addition. They also updated and increased the beauty of the gardens with many new structures such as a greenhouse, a stucco garage and circular driveway. They left the mid-nineteenth century wooden stable which was later used for the gardeners until the late 1920s. This is the oldest building on the grounds.
In 1913 Albert Austin sold a big portion of his property to the city of Toronto for the development of the St. Clair Reservoir.
In 1978 Anna Kathleen Thompson (granddaughter of James and Susan Austin) partially sold and partially donated the mansion jointly to the city of Ontario and the Ontario Heritage Foundation. The transfer included furnishings, archives, family portraits, about 6 acres of gorgeous gardens in a park-like setting, and even the kitchen oven. These prized family possesions were given to the museum to honour her parents Albert and Mary.
The Spadina Museum first opened to the public in 1984 after two years of extensive safety updates and electrical rewiring were completed.
Twenty-five years later, after all the wear and tear from visitors who came to see the museum, it was once again closed for renovations. These renos which were made to the interior took 10 months to complete. Samples of leftover fabrics, wallpaper and other contents from the Austin family made it possible to create a vision of the way the house looked in the 1920s as well as educating guests about the social, economical and political lives of those living in that era.
Spadina House Museum has several guided tours of the historic 1866 restored mansion and beautiful gardens. There is a gift shop and it is fully accessible for those with special needs.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes there is a small admission fee which includes a tour when available.Spadina House Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 285 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2V5, Canada
Phone: (416) 392-6910
Official Website: Spadina House
Spadina House Reviews
Rated
Loved this quaint historical mansion. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and listening to the story about the family who lived here while we saw all the antiques gave a palpable experience. It was nice to imagine myself living a life here some decades ago. Me and my friends walked into this museum without expecting much as it is close to our college and free of charge too. Now it is one of my favourite places. The park surrounding the house is lush with greenery, flowers and it’s so nice to take naps under the sun and breeze.
Pema Wangmo - a month ago
This is one of the best tours I've had in Toronto. The tour guide was very friendly and thorough in their explanations. The tour was quite long for such a small place. There's just so much details to explore here. Please do come!
Guilherme Cavalcante - 3 months ago
Such an absolute beauty and 20th century aesthetic hidden in this well preserved mansion. It documents the lifestyle of a wealthy Canadian family that lived for almost a 100 years at Spadina; showcasing the different interior design choices and intimate details in the furniture, wallpaper and even the paintings drawn by the family members themselves.
The admissions are free and I absolutely recommend joining a guided tour to fully grasp the beauty and context of the lives spent in this mansion.
The you can last up to 90 minutes, I suggest starting early in the day and brining your curiosity and love for history and the arts with you!
The staff are super helpful and they truly comprehend the multitude of this mansion’s history and heritage. There’s a small gift shop and there’s also a vast garden/park that surrounds the mansion that is accessed through the mansion’s main gate.
I visited Spadina on a rainy day but I believe it would be even more beautiful on a nice sunny day 🌸⭐️
Amenah Bustami - 2 months ago
I showed up for the free guided tour and had an incredible time here. The tour lasted about an hour and it was very interesting to learn about the house and the people who once lived in it. Our guide was very funny and knowledgeable. As someone from New Zealand where we do not really have many historical buildings I found this place really cool, and enjoyed the glimpse into 1920s life. 100% recommend visiting if you're in Toronto!
Bailey Gebert - 3 months ago
Stunningly beautiful, each room has a color theme. The more than 100-year-old architecture bears a strong historical mark
Joey Le - 3 weeks ago
Directions
TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
---|---|---|
Yonge-University-Spadina | Dupont Station | 8-10 MInutes |
How to get to Spadina House by TTC Subway
No bus needed. From Dupont Station walk 2 blocks north on Spadina Road to Davenport Road then follow the Baldwin stairs (110 steps) up the hill directly ahead of you. Spadina House is located right next door to Casa Loma.
If you prefer not to use the stairs you can proceed west on Davenport Road; right on Wallace Road and right again on Austin Terrace.
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Photo Gallery
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Beautiful Staircase Inside the Spadina House Museum cc licensed photo by Vytas Bru -
Inside the Spadina House cc licensed photo by Vytas Bru -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: booledozer - cc license via Flickr
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