Museum of Northern History at Sir Harry Oakes Chateau

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.6/5 (653 reviews) Excellent

About This Museum

Everyone comes to the Sir Harry Oakes Chateau for the name, lured by the mystery of the man himself, but you leave completely captivated by the story of Kirkland Lake. It’s not a stuffy hall of artifacts; it feels like walking right into the opulent 1920s home of a mining tycoon. I found myself just staring at the grand oak staircase and imagining the parties that must have happened here. This place brilliantly weaves one man's wild fortune with the collective grit of an entire gold-mining community.

Collection Highlights

The recreated mine shaft gives you a genuine sense of what it was like underground, while exhibits detail Oakes' life from local prospector to international mystery. Don't miss his personal effects, like the vintage car, which really make the era come alive.

Visitor Information

It's perched on a hill right beside a beautiful park, so it's easy to find and makes for a perfect afternoon. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable locals who love sharing stories you won't find on any plaque.

Architecture & Building

It's a stunning, almost fairytale-like stone chateau that looks like it was airlifted straight from the French countryside and dropped into Northern Ontario.

Contact & Location

Address: Northern History Museum, 2, Chateau Drive, Kirkland Lake, Timiskaming District, Northeastern Ontario, Ontario, P2N 2E8, Canada

Phone: +1 705-568-8800