Guelph Arts Council 2006 Historical Walking Tours

April 5, 2006

NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH ARTS COUNCIL 2006 HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS BEGIN APRIL 23

It's springtime in Guelph, and time for the start of Guelph Arts Council's popular walking tours. These guided tours, which are offered on selected Sundays between April 24 and October 15, trace Guelph's heritage through its architecture, its people, and the stories that contribute to this City's unique character.

There are five Guelph Arts Council walking tours, each of which explores a different area of historic Guelph. Where Guelph Began encircles the original Market Square area of almost twenty-four acres laid out by John Galt in 1827, and includes the sites of many of Guelph's first buildings. Downtown Walkabout covers Guelph's current Downtown. The Slopes of the Speed explores the slopes of the Speed River where many of Guelph's largest and most distinguished historic homes are located. Altar and Hearth covers the area west of Downtown and includes several historic stone churches and many historic homes representing a variety of architectural styles. Brooklyn and the College Hill focuses on one of Guelph's early industrial sections on the south side of the Speed River, as well as the area that developed around the Ontario Agricultural College.

All tours start at 2 p.m. from different locations. They take about two hours to complete and cost $2 per person. Tour booklets are available for $5 each at the Guelph Arts Council office and several other retail locations.

For tour dates and other information, please contact the Guelph Arts Council office at 147 Wyndham Street North, Suite 404, Guelph, or phone (519) 836-3280; Fax (519) 766-9212; email gac@sentex.net.

Guelph Arts Council gratefully acknowledges the support of the Downtown Board of Management.



GUELPH ARTS COUNCIL HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS - 2006

Guelph Arts Council historical walking tours of Guelph's historic core area are scheduled on selected Sundays, April through October.

Tour I: WHERE GUELPH BEGAN

This tour encircles the original Market Square area of almost twenty-four acres laid out by John Galt in 1827. Serving as the focal point for Guelph's early social and business life, the area also contains the sites of many of Guelph's first buildings.

Dates: April 23, May 28, August 13, September 17

Time: 2 p.m

Starts: Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph

Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)

Tour II: DOWNTOWN WALKABOUT

The present downtown centre of Guelph, with its wide main street, provides a compact walking tour which includes many buildings and sites of considerable historical and architectural interest.

Dates: April 30, June 4, August 20, September 24

Time: 2 p.m

Starts: Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph

Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)

Tour III: THE SLOPES OF THE SPEED

This tour explores the slopes of the Speed River between Norwich and Macdonell Streets, where many of Guelph's largest and most distinguished historic homes are located.

Dates: May 7, June 11, August 27, October 1

Time: 2 p.m

Starts: Guelph Public Library, 100 Norfolk Street, Guelph

Cost: $3 per person.

Tour IV: ALTAR AND HEARTH IN VICTORIAN GUELPH

This tour provides a glimpse of the Victorian era in Guelph. Covering the area west of Norfolk Street, between Essex Street and London Road, the tour includes several historic stone churches and many historic homes representing a variety of architectural styles.

NOTE: This tour is offered in two parts [(a) and (b)] on alternating dates.

Dates: May 14 (a), June 18 (b), September 3 (a), October 8 (b)

Time: 2 p.m

Starts: Tour (a) Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph

Tour (b) Guelph Public Library, 100 Norfolk Street, Guelph

Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)

Tour V: BROOKLYN AND THE COLLEGE HILL

This tour takes participants to the south side of the Speed River to explore one of Guelph's early industrial sections, formerly known as Brooklyn, as well as the College Hill area that developed around the Ontario Agricultural College. The tour includes some of the city's best examples of masonry and stone carving.

Dates: May 21, June 25, September 10, October 15

Time: 2 p.m

Starts: McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph

Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)

Walking tour booklets are available, at $5 each, for all tours either from the tour guides or from the Guelph Arts Council office: at 147 Wyndham Street North - Suite 404, Guelph, Ontario, NlH 4E9
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tel (519) 836-3280 Email: gac@sentex.net www.guelphartscouncil.org OR www.guelpharts.ca/guelphartscouncil