Lang Pioneer Village, Keene Ontario

Don't miss our first event of the season:

16th Annual Father's Day Smoke & Steam Show

Sunday, June 17th ~ 10am to 4 pm

Please visit our Special Events page for details!

On August 19, 1967, Lang Pioneer Village opened its doors as the foundation of Peterborough County's Centennial celebrations. The Museum was made possible through federal grants, contributions from the county municipalities and the tremendous vision of an outstanding corps of volunteers. Many felt that the County was getting an invaluable permanent summer tourist attraction. The County Warden, David McIntyre, predicted that there "was a very bright future for the project" and Napier Simpson, project consulting architect, called the site "one of the best in Ontario".

Created as an "outdoor museum", buildings were moved as far as 90 miles from the surrounding townships, and artifacts were given by local residents, some of whom were descendants of the original settlers to the area. The first building moved to the site was the South Lake log schoolhouse, the only one of its kind in the County. Forty years later, Lang Pioneer Village has grown to a museum with over 25 fully restored historic buildings, exposing thousands of local and international visitors each year to the rich, rural history of our region.

A photographer's paradise, the Village is complete with lanes and pathways, farm animals, rail and stump fences, vegetable and herb gardens, hitching posts and watering troughs, and many other authentic details of a 19th-century hamlet. Villagers of all ages recreate a typical day in the life of an early settler through a host of demonstrations including blacksmithing, carpentry, and printmaking on an 1827 Washington Flatbed Press. Each of the homesteads features a unique array of pioneer domestic duties from open hearth cooking to making beeswax candles as well as a wide variety of traditional pastimes including rug hooking, spinning and weaving. The site also boasts a fully operational Grist Mill, originally built in 1846, where visitors can see whole wheat ground into flour and purchase a bag as a souvenir of their visit.

Step back in time and enjoy a day like no other. Begin your visit with a picnic along the banks of the historic Indian River. Stroll through interactive exhibits, browse the Museum Gift Shop with its unique mix of giftware and immerse yourself in this unique living history experience.