Heritage & Culture.
Local artist Gerry Lantaigne founded the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery in 1997, and it has since grown into a year-round free public exhibition of more than 100 outdoor murals reproducing Group of Seven and Tom Thomson works on the exterior walls of buildings across Huntsville, Lake of Bays, and the Algonquin region. A self-guided downtown route covers the densest cluster, anchored at the visitor booth in the Algonquin Theatre at 37 Main Street East.
The brief.
The Outdoor Gallery is fully outdoor and viewable any time of year — guided tours run in July and August during the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. Muskoka Heritage Place sits on 90 acres one kilometre from downtown and packs three distinct experiences: the Muskoka Museum, the Muskoka Pioneer Village (re-creating late-1800s Muskoka settler life with costumed interpreters), and the Portage Flyer steam train — a small steam locomotive that was originally part of the Huntsville–Lake of Bays portage railway operated from 1904 until 1959 in nearby Dwight, now making 30-minute return trips along the Muskoka River into Fairy Lake Station.
Heritage Place is open daily May 17 through October 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry at 3 p.m.). The Algonquin Theatre programs music, dance, and theatrical productions through the year; the visitor information booth in the Theatre lobby operates May through September.
5. places.
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Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery
100+ outdoor murals reproducing Group of Seven and Tom Thomson masterpieces; year-round free public exhibition; founded in 1997 by local artist Gerry Lantaigne; spans Huntsville, Lake of Bays, and the Algonquin region with the densest cluster in downtown Huntsville.
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Muskoka Heritage Place
90-acre site one kilometre from downtown; Muskoka Museum, Muskoka Pioneer Village, Rotary Village Station, and the Portage Flyer steam train; daily May 17 through October 11, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
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Portage Flyer steam train
Originally part of the Huntsville–Lake of Bays portage railway operated 1904 until 1959 in Dwight; now runs 30-minute return trips along the Muskoka River into Fairy Lake Station out of Muskoka Heritage Place.
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Algonquin Theatre
Performing arts venue at 37 Main Street East; visitor services booth in lobby May through September.
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River Mill Park
Downtown municipal park on the Muskoka River.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01Muskoka Heritage Place is open daily May 17 through October 11, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.); admission applies.Source ↗
- 02The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery is free, year-round, and self-guided; murals are on private and public building exteriors throughout downtown Huntsville and across the broader region.Source ↗