Haunted MuseumsGalleries of Ontario

Curators of nightmares, archivists of fears and trustees of all things that go bump in the night, museums are not simply places that preserve and display historical artifacts. Andrew Hind cracks open the crumbling vault of true ghost stories to reveal the restless spirits inhabiting museums and galleries across Ontario. He guides the reader through cursed artifacts, spectral evidence of the afterlife and timeless mysteries: ⢠At Toronto's Black Creek Pioneer Village, the past may be more alive than even the costumed interpreters could imagineâthe mill wheel turns of its own accord; unseen horses pull a wagon up to the door; a little ghost boy plays peek-a-boo ⢠The mysterious spirits inhabiting the elegant Brown House at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum reveal their secrets to a paranormal investigation team ⢠At the Art Gallery of Sudbury, the ghosts of the original owners of the mansion mingle with staff and visitors ⢠Canada's ace of aces, the legendary World War I aviator Billy Bishop, inhabits his boyhood home in Owen Sound long after leaving this mortal plane. ⢠Almost every building at Muskoka Heritage Place has a phantom or two that make their presence felt ⢠All who encounter the ghost of Hollywood silent film star Marie Dressler at her childhood home in Cobourg note that while her mouth moves as if speaking, no words are heard. So visit a museum and experience its collection, physical and ethereal alike.