Home - Penitentiary Museum

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

End of Road Closure Effecting the Penitentiary Museum

Please be advised! The construction work on Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard is closed between Union Street and King Street is now over. Our parking lot is now accessible to motor vehicles. ///Soyez avisé ! Les travaux de construction du boulevard…

Happy Birthday, Cedarhedge!

For #cedarhedge150, a reflection by the Museum's curator, Dave St. Onge: It was one hundred and fifty years ago today that Warden John Creighton moved into the recently completed Warden’s residence, along with his young family and his elderly father.…

INTRODUCING MUGSHOTS: THE HISTORY OF PENITENTIARY PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

The Museum is proud to highlight this article published in the Correctional Service of Canada's 'Let's Talk Express.' Written by Curator Dave St. Onge and researcher Cameron Willis, it's a succinct history about the introduction of prisoner photographic identification -…

Cedarhedge 150th Anniversary Puzzle!

New in stock for #cedarhedge150: a special postcard that allows visitors to construct their own Cedarhedge at home. Designed by one of our Museum volunteers, Bill James. He has written special instructions provided with every purchase of the postcard and…

Cedarhedge150 Commemorative Postcards

New in stock at the Museum's gift shop for #cedarhedge150: special commemorative postcards with historic and contemporary photos of the Museum! Help us celebrate the 150th anniversary of Cedarhedge, where the Museum and our unique collection of federal prison materials…

Open for the Season! / Ouvert pour la saison

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…

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.

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Historical Research

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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.