Explore the city’s history through Doors Open
Walking tours led by historians will also be part of the May 7 event
Doors Open Peterborough will be returning May 7 after going virtual for the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers encourage visitors to come explore buildings in the city.
The annual celebration is presented by the City of Peterborough and sponsored by the Peterborough and Kawarthas Association of Realtors.
“PKAR is sponsoring Doors Open because we value the opportunity for our community to discover hidden architectural gems, be inspired by our heritage and to see behind some doors rarely open to the public,” said Kate Kidd, president of Peterborough and Kawarthas Association of Realtors.
The event will be free of charge and offer people a way to learn the history of the City of Peterborough.
The theme this year will be “design and adaptive reuse,” looking at some of the ways historic buildings throughout Peterborough have been used.
Five buildings will be the focus of this year’s event for people to walk through and learn about, including; Peterborough’s historical YMCA, now Y Lofts, King George Public School, Peterborough Theatre Guild, PCVS and Peterborough Museum and Archives.
Local historians will offer walking tours to people interested in learning more about certain areas of the city including Confederation Square (Around the Block, Around the Town), a tour of East City’s landmarks (Ashburnham from the Top) including Immaculate Conception Church, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Westclox, St. Luke’s Church among others showing how they have been repurposed or integrated into Peterborough.
A walking tour of the Hunter Street bridge will offer people a chance to learn about the history of the area including the Quaker Oats building, which was involved in a fire and explosion more than 100 years ago.
The 30-minute guided walk will be led by Gord Young, who published a book on the event and how it changed Peterborough.
Most Doors Open sites will operate between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except King George Public School which will operate tours between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. and Peterborough Museum and Archives, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Walking tours will operate during the day; Around the Block, Around the Town offers tours at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m., Ashburnham from the Top at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Quaker Oats hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To learn more about Doors Open go to doorsopenontario.on.ca/peterborough.