Algonquin Park – Logging Museum

 Algonquin Park Logger’s Museum           

The museum was built in 1992 as a co-operative venture of the Friends of Algonquin Park, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Algonquin Forest Authority.   

It is located just inside the east gate of the park on Hwy. 60  (54.5 km. from the West Gate, which is 35 km. from Huntsville).    

Your visit to the Algonquin Logging Museum begins at a staffed Visitor Reception Building housing a bookstore and a theatre where an audiovisual program presents an overview of logging in Algonquin Park. The Visitor’s Reception Centre and bookstore is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and the visitor trail is always open.     

The actual exhibits however are located along an easy 1.3km (3/4 mile) loop trail that begins and ends at the Visitor Reception Building. There are 20 stops on the tour, each featuring an item of interest.  The numbered sections in the guidebook correspond to the numbered exhibit stations along the trail and will introduce you, through the exhibits, to the story of Algonquin Park logging from the early square timber days in the 1830s right up to today’s modern forest management.          

Take a step back in time and learn about this very colourful aspect of Algonquin’s cultural history. The museum also offers slideshows and interpretive walks in July and August.          

This is an excellent way to spend 1 or 2 hours exploring the history of logging in Algonquin park from early logging of square timber of white and red pine around 1830 to present day logging practices ,  how loggers lived in diffrent logging era camps, camboose camps to sawlog camps, from horse and axe to the machine era. This is a living history theme park for all to enjoy and learn.     

Afterward a quick drive to the Visitor Center were more information on Algonquin Parks history, as well a book store with wide variety of books on nature  and local history.     

Here are links to  sites that have  pictures of the Loggers Museum Trail and historical detail of logging pratices in the early years.       

Short Articles on Algonquin Park History    

Quick  logging history  - Algonquin Forestry Authority   

Quick overview of Algonquin park history  -   Algonquin Provincial Park Official Web Site   

Moreinformation on Alligator tugs and Crib and Cage     

The Alligator or Steam Powered Amphibious Warping Tug  by Bryant Owen      

Northern Ontario Alligators - by Chris Moore      

Alligator wonderfull sites from yesterday – by Doug Mackey     

More info on Camboose Camp     

The Camboose Shanty - by Charles Macnamara     

Articles on Logging along the madawaska river – includes
A river flows by us and Shantymen on the Madawaska by Bill Graham
The Log Drivers- by Garry Ferguson      

Photo Gallery of Exhibits along the trail

Gallery of  – Algonquin Logging Museum Trail - by Robert Taylor