Canada's
Penitentiary
Museum
Come visit Canada's Penitentiary Museum, the award-winning museum dedicated solely to the preservation and interpretation of the history of our federal penitentiaries. Located at the birthplace of the Correctional Service of Canada in Kingston Ontario, the museum is housed within Cedarhedge, which once housed the wardens of Kingston Penitentiary.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
May 1 to November 3, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ADMISSION
Charitable Donation
PARKING
555 King Street West
News
We're open! Come visit and help celebrate #cedarhedge150 with us! Canada’s Penitentiary Museum is now open for the season. On this day in 1871, the excavation of the basement began, marking the beginning of the construction of the house that…
Mark your calendars and help celebrate #cedarhedge150 with us! Canada’s Penitentiary Museum is open for the season on May 1, 2023. We open at 9am and last admission is 3:30pm. We will be open seven days a week, Monday to Sunday. For…
Canada’s Penitentiary Museum will be celebrating #Cedarhedge150 this summer. On August 28, 1873, Warden John Creighton and his family moved into Cedarhedge, the new official warden’s residence of Kingston Penitentiary, now the home of the Museum. Built entirely by prison labour of…
Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, located in the old Warden’s residence of Kingston Penitentiary, is looking for interested applicants for the summer season (May 1 to September 4). The Museum chronicles the history of the federal correctional system in Canada, with several…
I am sad to announce that one of our long-time friends and volunteers has passed away. Dave Burke began his career with the Canadian Penitentiary Service at Kingston Pen in 1967 as a Correctional Officer and he remained until his…
Canada's Penitentiary Museum is very pleased to announce that we were awarded the Hospitality & Tourism Award on Sept. 22, 2022, at the 26th Kingston Business Excellence Awards organized by the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. It's a great honour…
We have a special event happening at Canada's Penitentiary Museum, this Saturday, June 4, 2022, from 12:00 to 3:00pm! We are excited to welcome Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, purveyor of amazing flavoured popcorn! The Museum is now stocking…
On May 21, 2022, the museum will reopen to visitors and other groups for the first time in two years of pandemic. The Museum will be open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 pm. To ensure a safe experience…
Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, located in the old Warden’s residence of Kingston Penitentiary, is looking for interested applicants for the summer season (May 17 to September 4). The Museum chronicles the history of the federal correctional system in Canada, with several…
The Museum
Located at the birthplace of the Correctional Service of Canada in Kingston Ontario, the museum is housed within the former residence of the warden of Kingston Penitentiary.
Friends of the Penitentiary Museum
The "Friends of the Penitentiary Museum" are a volunteer group dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the fascinating history of Canada's Federal penitentiary system. Some of us have a correctional background. Others have a passionate interest in Canada's history. It would seem we are not alone in thinking exposure to correctional history is key to understanding any society. Currently more than 50,000 people per year visit this award-winning museum housed in the former Warden's residence of Kingston Penitentiary.