Your input is helping to shape new experiences and stories at Doon Heritage Village!

Doon Heritage Village Reopening

To learn more about the reopening of Doon Heritage Village in summer 2026 by checking the website, signing up for our weekly Region of Waterloo Museums and Archives e-newsletter and following us on Instagram and Facebook.

Doon Heritage Village (DHV) is a 60 acre living history museum that opened in 1957. For decades Doon Heritage Village has shared what life was like for some community members in rural Waterloo Region in 1914. Its living history programs brought to life the early years of the 1900s with costumed interpreters, hands-on activities, guided tours, special events and school class visits.

Doon Heritage Village at a glance

  • Since the late 1980’s DHV has recreated life in rural Waterloo County during the year 1914.
  • The Doon Heritage Village, which has been in operation since 1957, and the nearby Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, which opened in 2010, are owned and operated by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo
  • More than 22 buildings, some of which are restored buildings donated and relocated from across Waterloo Region and south-central Ontario, and some are reconstructions based on original buildings.
  • Buildings in the living history village include a railway station, a number of farmhouses and barns, a weavery, grocery store, harness shop, tailor shop, post office, sawmill, church, and a fire hall.
  • Doon Heritage Village is a popular spot for weddings, celebrations, events, fieldtrips and a filming location. The Village was the set for an episode of CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries in the summer of 2023

Expanding Stories and Experiences

  • This project aims to ensure that Doon Heritage Village becomes a truly reflective and inclusive space by actively involving the community in expanding and enriching the stories shared at the site - while celebrating the stories and memories of Doon Heritage Village over the past 60+ years.
  • Planning for the future of Doon Heritage Village, the community was invited to reflect on what we can learn from the past to understand our current experience and to support the future generations in Waterloo Region.
  • When reopened, Doon Heritage Village will share stories that resonate with our community, providing opportunities for learning and conversation, and create unique experiences for all.
  • This initiative was informed by community input, especially from those whose stories are underrepresented, to enrich the narratives shared at Doon Heritage Village and reflect the experience and identities of our community.
  • Community input has shaped the creation of a new Doon Heritage Village Interpretive Plan to ensure Doon Village remains a vital cultural asset.

Phase 1 - Reimagining Doon Heritage Village Engagement

Like many other cultural institutions around the world, the Region of Waterloo's Doon Heritage Village has reflected on which stories of culture and heritage it shares – and which are missing. The Region of Waterloo Museum team received valuable input from the community on how it might expand the stories, resources and experiences it provides to all residents and visitors through a world-class museum experience.

Museum staff welcomed community storytelling and memory sharing; providing an understanding of what the Village has meant to residents and visitors over the last 60+ years. This was a important step to better understand the stories, cultures and traditions of residents who do not yet see their own cultural history represented in Region of Waterloo Museums and historic sites.

What We Heard

In 2024, we collected valuable ideas and feedback from the community on how to update and enhance Doon Heritage Village (DHV). Highlights from the engagement findings include:

  • A strong desire for diverse storytelling, including accurate and respectful representation of Indigenous and diverse newcomer stories.
  • Interest in hands-on, immersive experiences, such as workshops and interactive exhibits, that balance entertainment with education.
  • The importance of improving accessibility to and within the Village, including affordable admission, better transportation options, and accessible pathways.
  • A preference for maintaining the 1914 historical focus while connecting it to broader historical and cultural narratives that resonate with today’s visitors

To learn more, you can review the:

Phase 2 - Developing a new Interpretive Plan

Input from community engagement helped shape the new themes for interpretation, ensuring that the stories, experiences and perspectives represented at the site reflect the rich and diverse history of the region. New stories and experiences will be guided by the following three key principles:

    • Theatricality: Using immersive, playful, and dramatic storytelling to engage audiences.
    • Multi-Sensory Experiences: Incorporating tactile, visual, auditory, and olfactory elements to appeal to diverse learning styles and abilities.
    • Expanded Stories: Collaborating with communities to ensure inclusive and accurate storytelling, addressing both celebratory and difficult aspects of history.

Phase 3 - Piloting New Experiences

Piloted experiences were offered to the public in fall 2025 to gauge interest in new programming initiatives and to gather feedback. Experiences included guided forest walks, foodways program featuring Black and Indigenous chefs, a collaborative exhibit with Vintage Black Canada, and patio planters updated with native plants used by Indigenous peoples with signage. Due to the success of these initiatives, they will continue to be offered when the site reopens in summer 2026.