History of the Museum

Our History

It starts with the land

The story of the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre is the story of the land on which it stands, and of the people who have gathered here over time.

Long before the museum existed, this was a place of movement, settlement, and exchange. The first people we can name spoke an Iroquoian language and lived in multigenerational longhouses, drawing from the land to farm, fish, and craft what they needed. Later, settlers built homes, churches, and the Schoolhouse, shaping a community that was also rooted in shared experience.

At the centre of the museum site is the 1859 Schoolhouse. For more than 165 years, it was a place of learning and gathering, where ideas were debated, books were shared, and community life unfolded. Although the students have moved on and artifacts have taken their place, that spirit has endured.

Today, the museum carries this forward. It is not just a building filled with objects, but a place for dialogue, creativity, and connection, where the stories of this land and its people continue to be shared.

Pioneer Day in Jordan
Pioneer Day in Jordan
Pioneer Day in Jordan
Pioneer Day in Jordan
Cider Press
Museum opening in 1953

Our History

01The Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty

The Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty was founded in 1953 through a grassroots effort to preserve this place and its stories. With the support and advocacy of Ruth Home (then Director of Historical Research of the Ontario College of Art), Philip Torno (vice-president of Jordan Wines) donated the land and the 1859 School House S.S. #4, for the establishment of a museum. Community members came together to collect the objects of everyday life, tools, textiles, letters, and photographs, creating a space where the past could be shared and remembered. The Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty held its official grand opening on May 9th, 1953 and was operated by the Board of Directors of The Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty.  

Museum volunteers

Our History

02The Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty Volunteer Association

For more than forty years, the Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty was built and sustained by volunteers. What began as a grassroots effort grew through their work—collecting objects, mounting exhibitions, leading tours, and creating a place where the community could gather and share its stories.

As the museum’s role expanded, so did the need to ensure its long-term future. In 1995, the Volunteer Association gifted the museum and its collection to the Town of Lincoln, marking a transition to public stewardship.

Volunteers remained at the heart of the museum. Through ongoing fundraising efforts, including the Heritage Gift Shop in Jordan Village, which they have operated since 1992, they have continued to support its growth and development, contributing $1 million toward the construction of the current facility.

Our History

03A New Chapter

After more than two decades of planning and advocacy, construction began on a new purpose-built museum facility in 2017.

Supported by grants, donors, and community partners, the new building allowed the Museum to expand its exhibitions, improve collections care, and grow its role within the community.

In 2021, the Museum reopened as the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre: Home of the Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty.

Heritage Gift Shop in Jordan Village

Our History

04Heritage Gift Shop

The Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty Volunteer Association (JHMTVA) raises funds to support the museum through the Heritage Gift Shop, located in Jordan Village. Interested in visiting or volunteering with the JHMTVA? Check out the Heritage Gift Shop.

The Heritage Gift Shop of Jordan Village

Current hours of operation

  • Monday – Tuesday: 11am - 3pm
  • Wednesday – Sunday 11am - 4pm