Paris Museum & Historical Society

Explore exhibits, archives, and stories that shaped Paris, Ontario.

The Grand River at Paris with the railway trestle and the dam above the rooftops of downtown at sunset
Downtown Paris, Bridge Name?
Downtown Paris, 1965

Museum Stories & Articles

Stories, artifacts, and moments from Paris’s past and present.

Events

Explore upcoming programs, talks, and community events at the Paris Museum.

Looking down the Paris Museum’s main gallery past wall cases of artifacts and archival material
Inside the Museum
Display cases and a large landscape model in the Paris Museum’s main gallery
Inside the Museum
Two volunteers examining photographs and an archival collection laid out on a table at the museum
Volunteers at the Museum

Why Visit the Paris Museum?

The Paris Museum offers more than artifacts behind glass. It is a place to explore local stories, discover hidden details of the town’s past, and experience Paris in a way you cannot get from a walking tour or a book.

From rotating exhibits and archival displays to community stories and guided research, every visit offers something new.

Perfect for families, visitors, and locals who love history.

Staff standing outside an early-1900s Paris storefront hung with theatre and film posters
Downtown Paris, 1905

Support Our Mission

The work of the Paris Museum & Historical Society is made possible through community support. Whether you become a member, make a donation, or volunteer your time, you help ensure that Paris’s stories are preserved for future generations.

Your support helps preserve artifacts, maintain archives, and bring local history to life.

Run by volunteers and powered by the community, your donation helps us preserve and share the stories of Paris, Ontario.

Paris Community Church in the snow, with its rose window and conical turret roofs
Paris Presbyterian Church, built in 1893

Community Partners

Notice: the Paris Museum is open Friday to Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, during July and August