Ontario's Historical Plaques

Here's where you can learn a little Ontario history

The Founding of Bracebridge

The Founding of Bracebridge

Photo by Alan L Brown - May, 2005

The Founding of Bracebridge

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - December, 2009

Plaque Location

The District of Muskoka
The Town of Bracebridge
In the centre of a park at the southeast corner of
Manitoba Street and Kimberley Street


Coordinates: N 45 02.549 W 79 18.813

Map

Plaque Text

In 1862 the Muskoka Road, a colonization route built to open this region for settlement, was completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River. A settlement, including a tavern, a lumber mill and a store, soon developed and two years later a post office named Bracebridge was opened. When regular steamship service began on Lake Muskoka in 1866, Bracebridge became the northern terminus and prospered as the distribution centre for the region. A court-house and a registry office for the district were built and by 1871 the village contained four large hotels, several mills and numerous stores. A developing tourist trade further encouraged the growth of the community and in 1875 Bracebridge was incorporated as a Village with over 750 inhabitants.

Related Ontario plaque pages
Muskoka Road 1858
Steamboating in Muskoka 1866-1959
Muskoka District Court House 1900

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Information

More
Settlements





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