Discover Tillsonburg: History, Museum and Recreation

Tillsonburg combines local history with a range of ways to plan your leisure time. Annandale House and the Tillsonburg Museum introduce different aspects of the town’s past, while year-round history programs complement this focus. For time outdoors, there’s Lake Lisgar Waterpark and a longer hike. Downtown Tillsonburg offers free parking and pedestrian-friendly streets to help you find your way around. Which topics take priority for you depends on whether you’re more interested in architectural history, a program, the waterpark or outdoor activity.

Annandale: Architectural History and Museum

Annandale House was built in the 1880s by Edwin Delevan Tillson. He was Tillsonburg’s first mayor and the son of town founder George Tillson. The house is therefore connected both to the town founder’s family and to the early civic role of its first mayor. If you’re interested in how the town began, the building’s history leads to a specific person and his role.

The Tillsonburg Museum at Annandale National Historic Site houses more than 18,000 artifacts from Tillsonburg’s past. The house and collection offer different points of emphasis: the building is linked to its builder and the 1880s, while the collection offers a broader view of the town’s history. Together, architectural history and artifacts provide two different ways into the same local subject.

Annandale National Historic Site offers programs throughout the year, where visitors of all ages can learn more about Tillsonburg’s history. These programs add another perspective to the history of the house and the museum collection. Individual programs may change. If a particular program is important to your plans, check the current offerings before your visit.

Waterpark and Time Outdoors

Lake Lisgar Waterpark is located in Memorial Park. Its attractions include an accessible heated pool and the 186-foot Giant Twister waterslide. There’s also a large grassy area suitable for picnics. This makes the site a place for both water activities and a break outdoors. Operating hours may vary by season, so check the latest hours before your visit.

Downtown and Hiking Trails

Downtown Tillsonburg has free parking and pedestrian-friendly streets. If you’d like to explore this part of town, you can use the parking options and walkable streets to find your way around. Parking rules may change, so check the latest information before setting out if needed. The Station Arts Centre also provides visitor information and is another point of reference to help you get oriented.

For a longer hike, a 10.5 km route runs from the northern end of Tillsonburg over the Hawkins Bridge at Lake Lisgar. The Trans Canada Trail continues along the route. Trail access may be affected by maintenance or construction, so check the latest information before setting out.

The walking options differ in how they help you find your way: Downtown has pedestrian-friendly streets, while the longer hike is described by its starting area, bridge, Lake Lisgar and distance. You can choose between exploring a town area on foot and taking a hike with a set distance.

Discover more destinations: Embro, New Hamburg, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Burgessville, Thamesford, Norwich

Return to the main travel overview: Oxford County.