The people of Toronto take their sport very seriously especially when it comes to their much loved game, Hockey. And no visit to Toronto is complete without getting a glimpse of this fascinating sport and being part of the thrill. What better way to do this than tour the Hockey Hall of Fame. The museum is dedicated to the history of ice hockey and proudly displays the achievements and accolades won by the teams and their players.
First established in 1943, the Hockey Hall of Fame is the result of the tireless efforts of James Thomas Sutherland, a national ice hockey player, coach, administrator and an ardent sport developer and supporter. He is fondly remembered as the Father of Hockey. Located at the corner of Front and Yonge Streets and spread over an area of 57,000 square feet, the Hall of Fame is divided into 15 exhibits. The Museum has on display cups, trophies, memorabilia as well as equipment and jerseys worn by famous hockey personalities. Apart from that, get insights and read biographies of members of the Hall of Fame and browse through portraits and photographs of players. The Museum also has some fun interactive exhibits where you can try your hand at taking real pucks as well as play goaltender.

In the heart of downtown Toronto is one of most unique museums you can ever encounter, the Museum of Textiles. With a plethora of colours, designs and texture, the Museum of Textiles manages to display the mundane and regular in the most vibrant and lively manner there is.

The Museum boasts a vast collection of over 12000 objects to display from over 200 countries and regions from across the globe. Initiated in 1975, the Museum of Textiles has come a long way since its inception. What started off as a modest venture comprising a room full of carpets and other textile displays, has now become one of the world’s most reputed textile museums. Earning popularity on the international circuit, helped move the collection to a more suitable place and since 1989, the Museum of Textile is displayed at 55 Centre Avenue.

Displaying textile art in the most engaging manner is what the Museum is most known for.  
The exhibits include textiles like carpets, ceremonial garments and clothing, quilts, fabric and other historical artefacts. The exhibits collected at the Museum date back to over 2000 years and are also updated with contemporary and recent exhibits that feature recent technology in the textile world.

One of the most spectacular structures you can ever encounter in Toronto is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Housing the world’s largest Canadian art collection, the Art Gallery of Ontario is a must visit when in Toronto.

The museum was established in 1900, and was the resultant of the efforts of a group of citizens who dint take art lightly. Although the museum had a shaky start, it progressed to earn the reputation of being one of the best known museums in the city.

The AGO has a proud collection of over 80,000 pieces of works that display art right from the 1st century till the present day. Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, Frans Hals, Peter Paul Rubens, Tintoretto, Anthony Van Dyke, Thomas Gainborough, Pablo Picasso are the few artists whose works are proudly displayed at the museum. The perfect place for admirers and followers of art, the AGO also has a brilliant collection of modern and contemporary artists like Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, and Jenny Holzer. Not only is the museum a haven for devoted paint and canvas lovers, the works of some of the finest sculptors can also be seen here. The AGO has the largest collection of sculptures by Henry Moore, who took the world by storm with his semi- abstract pieces of work.

Ever since man has evolved into a social being, he has made rules and regulations to make life simpler. Since the beginning of society, law has always played an important role in the everyday lives of the community. However following the history of law, is an issue not many have dived into.

Attempting to answer this very conundrum is the Toronto Police Museum. Situated in the atrium of Toronto’s Police Headquarters is the Police Museum. Attracting tourists from all over the world, the Police Museum sheds light upon the law enforcement history of Toronto’s Police.

Taking its visitors almost 170 years back, to city’s notorious days, where the greatest offence was larceny and cattle stealing, here you get to learn fascinating facts like how once upon a time, volunteers were appointed to take care of law and order in the city, as well as witness the transition from use of animal units to motor vehicles. Interesting exhibits also includes the transition of weaponry, uniforms and insignias over time. Interactive exhibits like the police car and motorcycle are a hoot with the kids. Museums needn’t always be about art and craft and Toronto’s Police Museum stands as the best example to prove this.

If you are an admirer of clay and Chinaware, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art is the place for you. The Museum is tucked humbly on Queen’s Park and is reportedly Canada’s only ceramic museum. Opened in 1984 by George R. Gardiner and his wife Helen Gardiner, the Museum has come a long way since its inception. Today, the Gardiner Museum is deemed as the jewel in the box of ceramic treasures and is a place you just cannot afford to miss if you are in Toronto.

With a collection of over 3000 pieces from all over the world, you can tour the works of ancient civilizations as well as contemporary artists from all over the world at the Gardiner Museum. Tour some of the rarest pottery you can find and the world’s oldest pieces of ceramic. From the works of ancient Americans and the delicate antique Ming vases to robust and artistic Italian Renaissance majolica, the Museum has it all. Owing to its increasing popularity and the ability to attract tourists in large numbers, the Museum also holds some very interesting temporary exhibits.

But the Gardiner Museum is not only about exhibits and plain demonstrations. It holds lectures, talks and classes for both adults and children. Apart from that, the Celebrity restaurant and the gift shop add fun to your visit.

From dinosaurs, meteors and historical artifacts to famous paintings, cultural artifacts and hands on exhibits, the Royal Ontario Museum has it all. If you love museums and unraveling the past, historically, archeologically or scientifically, the Royal Ontario Museum is the place to be.
Receiving over a million visitors every year, the Royal Ontario Museum is one place that every tourist of Toronto has on his list. With over six million artifacts covering ancient history, art, meteorology, science, anthropology, archeology and paleontology, there is no mystery behind the huge reputation the Museum has. It is a proud owner of the largest collection of fossils from the Burgess Shale which is the world’s most popular and celebrated fossil field. Since its establishment in 1912, the Museum has had close ties with the University of Toronto. It was not until 1968, that the Royal Museum became a separate and independent body.
The architecture of the Museum also needs a special mention. The building is an amalgamation of different styles and designs of architecture ranging from Neo- Romanesque to Byzantine along with eye catching ultra-modern and contemporary styles. The Royal Ontario Museum comes as the perfect treat for the eyes and provides food for imagination as well as one’s curiosity.

There are many things that we have so conveniently taken for granted, but just can’t do without them. Footwear is one such item, so very important, and yet so easily overlooked. But imagine a place just dedicated to footwear!

One of the most fascinating museums you can ever visit is the Bata Shoe Museum founded in 1940 by passionate shoe collector Sonja Bata. If the name sounds familiar, then you have guessed it right, she is associated with the giant shoe making empire. However, the museum boasts an independent collection of footwear and has hardly a dozen Bata pieces.

What started off as a fun hobby today is one of the most fascinating museums in the city. The Bata Shoe Museum is home to the largest collection of shoes and footwear related artefacts in the world. Along with a strictly time controlled exhibit, the Museum also holds lectures, talks and performances. Apart from that, the Museum also has a thriving research program which dives into the anthropological aspect of footwear and its evolution over time. Thanks to their in-depth understanding, the Museum also boast some 12,000 pieces of footwear related artefacts from all over the world spanning a time-frame of over 4,500 years. The best part is the brilliant structure which houses the exhibits. Shaped in the form of a shoe box, the building is just apt for the museum it is home to.