National Historic Site

The Old Town Hall, now the Woodstock Museum, was built in 1853 and is modeled architecturally on the Town Hall in Woodstock, England. The Town Hall is majestic for its size, with semicircular windows and a domed cupola.

It served as the first market, first fire hall, community hall, and lockup for the town and was the location of the world-famous Birchall-Benwell murder trial in 1890. Canada’s first elected female mayor, Bernadette Smith, served here from 1952–1965. The original town council chamber used from 1871 to 1968 inside has been restored.

The Woodstock Museum has a diverse and authentic collection that immerses viewers in a story-telling environment. Several times a year, the museum presents various exhibits in its Changing Exhibits Gallery.

Photos: Balcer, Public Domain; https://www.facebook.com/WMNHS/