Mackenzie House

Mackenzie House is a narrow Victorian row house on Bond Street in downtown Toronto, the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie — Toronto's first mayor and leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. The museum preserves the house as it would have looked in the 1850s.

The museum's most engaging feature for kids is a working replica of Mackenzie's printing press. The press is the type used to print The Colonial Advocate, Mackenzie's radical newspaper. During demonstrations, visitors can see how the press operates and sometimes participate in printing a page — a tangible connection to a pivotal period in Canadian history.

The house is decorated with period furniture and household items from the 1850s. Guided tours explain the Mackenzie family's daily life and William Lyon Mackenzie's role in Toronto's political history. For kids studying Canadian history (typically grade 7+), the rebellion story is dramatic and engaging — this was a man who led an armed uprising against the government.

Mackenzie House has a longstanding reputation for being haunted, with staff and visitors reporting unexplained occurrences over the decades. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the stories add an extra layer of intrigue for older kids and teens.

The house is a narrow, multi-story Victorian building with steep stairs and tight rooms. Strollers are not practical. The museum is small — visits typically last 30 minutes to an hour. No food service or changing facilities.

Bond Street is in downtown Toronto near Dundas Square. The Dundas subway station is a short walk away. Combine with a visit to nearby Dundas Square, the Eaton Centre, or the surrounding Yonge Street area.