Welcome to the Murney Tower Museum!
A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Operated by the Kingston Historical Society since 1925.
About Us
The Murney Tower Museum is a local history museum operated by the Kingston Historical Society in partnership with Parks Canada since 1925. It is located in one of the four Martello Towers of Kingston, Ontario and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications. It is the oldest operating museum in Kingston, which has a collection of domestic and military artifacts that portray 19th-century life in Kingston. It also offers guided tours, audio tours, educational programs, special events, and exhibits.
Announcements
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Summer 2026 Events and Programs
The season is in full swing and we’re ready to reveal our Summer 2026 event lineup! Take a look at what we have coming up.
July 11th: Tunes in the Tower: A Night of Celtic Music: Join us for a night of Celtic music from Kevin & the Kitchen Sink and some delightfully historic baked goods!
July 23rd: Kids Take Over the Museum:There’s one day a year where the museum belongs to kids! Kids Take Over the Museum is a day of heritage workshops made specially for kids aged 5-12.
August 15th: Murney Fest:Murney Fest is an annual fun-filled day where you can play some fun games, engage with local heritage sites, and take part in some Murney-inspired activities!
August 30th: Murney Cruise:Back by popular demand, we’re collaborating with Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises to host another Murney-themed sunset cruise.
For more information, please visit our events page.
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Murney Tower Museum Opens for the 2026 Season!
Murney Tower Museum is excited to welcome visitors back for our 101st season of sharing Kingston’s history!
Join us as we open our doors for another summer. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week, all season long. You can enjoy a variety of ways to explore the museum, including guided tours, self-guided visits, and audio tours. Admission is by donation.
Whether you’re a returning visitor or seeing the tower for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you in our museum!
Our 2025 Annual Report is now live!
The 2025 season marked Murney Tower Museum’s 100th operating year – an extraordinary milestone as the first museum in Kingston to reach a century of continuous operation. Our 2025 Annual Report provides an overview of our work across eight key areas: Centennial Initiative, Special Projects, Exhibitions and Collections, Education, Accessibility, Special Events, Collaborative Initiatives, and Publicity. It is available to read at the link below.
Visitor Information
Murney Tower Museum is CLOSED! We’ll see you in May 2026!
We acknowledge that Murney Tower Museum is situated on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe. We recognize that this is shared land through the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Covenant with Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee nations hundreds of years ago. We are grateful to continue to share this land to teach, learn, celebrate, and live.
Murney Tower Museum acknowledges with thanks the continued financial support of the City of Kingston, Tourism Kingston, and the Kingston and Area Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites.
