Artifact Collections | City of Kawartha Lakes

Unearth the stories of the past- each artifact holds a thrilling adventuring waiting to be shared.

Kawartha Lakes preserves its artifact collection in trust for the community, honouring local heritage and ensuring public access for current and future generations.

Guided by the Artifact Policy and Management Directives, along with volunteers and local organizations, staff identify, acquire and care for historically significant items. This not only ensures long-term preservation in line with best practices, but creates connection between the collection and community.

While we continue our efforts to digitize and catalogue the collection, many artifacts from the City of Kawartha Lakes are already available to explore both online and on display at the Maryboro Lodge Museum

Featured Artifacts

Artifacts are vital links to our past, offering tangible evidence of human history and culture. Each artifact—whether a tool, piece of art, or written record—tells a unique story about the people who created and used it. These objects reveal insights into daily life, beliefs, social structures, and technological advancements of our communities. Through them, we can trace timelines, learn from our past, and celebrate achievements. Artifacts bring these stories to life, helping us connect with our heritage and better understand the diverse narratives that shape our world today.

We invite you to explore a selection of featured artifacts that share the stories of the people and places that have shaped Kawartha Lakes.

From the Burns Presbyterian Church in Cambray

Offertory Basket

From the Town Hall in Bethany

Silver Trowel

From the Greenaway Family in Mariposa

First Prize Ribbon

From the South Eldon Church in Lorneville

Coins

From the Township of Verulam

Corporate Seal

From the Township of Carden

Corporate Seal

From the Township of Mariposa

Corporate Seal

From the Township of Fenelon

Corporate Seal

Caring for your Collections

The City of Kawartha Lakes is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of our diverse and beautiful communities—highlighting the people, places, and organizations that shape our region. The artifact collection includes artifacts (such as clothing, tools, and other objects) that reflect and celebrate our rich history and heritage.

If you have an artifact or archival item that you believe could contribute to our collection, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Do you have artifacts that you would like to donate to our collection? Please fill out this FORM and email the completed form to llove@kawarthalakes.ca so we can gather as much information on your proposed donation as possible. This will help us create a detailed accession file should your artifacts be accepted.

We are grateful for your time and your interest in the City of Kawartha Lakes collection!

Heirlooms at Home

The preservation of Kawartha Lakes history does not end with the care and documentation of heritage material that is owned, in trust, by Kawartha Lakes, it is more than that. To preserve and celebrate its full history, Kawartha Lakes offers professional advisory services for residents to care for their privately owned items. Whether you would like to reorganize your photographic collection or are ready to unfold your mother's wedding dress from its trunk, we can help.

A note about the program:

We ask that you do not leave items unattended at municipal facilities within or outside regular hours of operation.

Kawartha Lakes does not accept human remains such as skeletons, human bones or biological tissue. Some exceptions may be made for items of mourning and personal mementos.

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