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Casa Loma

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:34:41 +0000

Casa Loma
1 Austin Terrace
Toronto, Ontario M5R 1X8
416 923-1171

Casa Loma, now a museum and landmark, was the former home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt, Canada’s foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens.

Casa Loma was constructed over a three-year period from 1911-1914. The architect of the mansion was E. J. Lennox who was responsible for the designs of several other city landmarks.

Casa Loma History

In 1903 Sir Henry Pellatt purchased 25 lots from developers Kertland and Rolf. Sir Henry commissioned Canadian architect E.J. Lennox to design Casa Loma with construction beginning in 1911, starting with the massive stables, potting shed and Hunting Lodge (a.k.a. coach-house) a few hundred feet north of the main building.

The house cost approximately $3.5 million and took a team of 300 workers three years to build from start to finish. Construction was halted on the castle once during its building process due to the start of World War I. At 98 rooms, it was the largest private residence in Canada. Most of the third floor was left unfinished, and today serve as the Regimental Museum for The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Notable

Casa Loma Features

- An elevator
- An oven large enough to cook an ox
- Two vertical passages for pipe organs
- Two secret passages in Sir Henry?s ground floor office
- Three bowling alleys that were never fully completed

During the depression that followed World War One, the City of Toronto increased Casa Loma’s annual property taxes from $600 per year to $1,000 a month, and Sir Henry Pellatt, already experiencing financial difficulties, was forced to abandon his castle home. By 1923 Sir Henry had already left Casa Loma.

After Sir Henry had sold the castle, it was operated as a luxury hotel for a brief period and during the late 1920?s was a popular nightspot. In 1933 the city of Toronto finally seized Casa Loma for $27,303 in back taxes.

Contrary to popular belief, Casa Loma has never been an official residence of either the city or the Province of Ontario. In 1937 it was opened to the public for the first time as a tourist attraction operated by the Kiwanis Club of Toronto.

During World War II, Casa Loma was used to conceal research on sonar, and for construction of sonar devices (known as ASDIC) for U-boat detection. The house is still operated by the Kiwanis Club. Today it is one of Toronto’s most popular tourist attractions.

Hours of Operation

Casa Loma is open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Last admission : 4:00 p.m.)
Casa Loma closes at 1:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve – December 24
Closed Christmas Day – December 25

Directions and Map to Casa Loma

From the South-West, (Windsor, London etc.)

Take the 401 East to Allen Road (Allen Expressway). Go south on the Allen Expressway to Eglinton Avenue West. Turn left (east) on Eglinton to Spadina. At Spadina, turn right (south, which is the only way you can go.) Continue on Spadina until you reach the front of the Castle, which is just south of St. Clair.

From the North-East, (Ajax, Oshawa, Scarborough etc.)

Take the 401 West to the Don Valley Parkway. Go south on the D.V.P. to Eglinton Avenue East. Go west on Eglinton to Spadina. Turn left (south) on Spadina (which is the only way you can go) Continue on Spadina until you reach the front of the Castle, which is south of St. Clair.

From the South, (Niagara, Hamilton, Mississauga etc.)

Take the Queen Elizabeth Way Eastbound into Toronto. Continue along the Q.E.W., (which turns into the Gardiner Expressway) to Spadina. Exit Northbound (which is the only way you can go) on Spadina. Continue north to Davenport Road (Spadina ends at Davenport). Turn left on Davenport, and take your first right (Walmer Road ), which takes you around to the front of the castle.

TTC (subway) Directions to Casa Loma

The TTC traveler has four options to reach Casa Loma by way of public transportation.

Go to Dupont station (located two stops north of St. George station on the Spadina- University line) and walk north two blocks on Spadina Ave. At this point, visitors have the option of climbing the Baldwin Steps (110 steps) at Spadina Ave. and Davenport Road or walking up the hill on the west side of the castle.

Go to Spadina station and take the Davenport 127 bus to Davenport & Spadina. Get off the bus and climb the Baldwin steps (110 steps ), or take the bus one stop further to Davenport and Walmer and walk up the hill on the west side of the castle.

Go to St. Clair West station on the Spadina-University line, walk east on St. Clair to Spadina, turn right (south) and keep walking (approximately 15 minutes) to the castle.

Go to St. Clair station on the Yonge line. Take the St. Clair streetcar (going West) to Spadina Road (5 minute ride-during construction this service is temporarily being provided by buses), get off and walk south on Spadina Road (approximate 10 minute walk) to Casa Loma.

Map of Casa Loma’s Location

Video of Casa Loma

Contact Casa Loma

Email: info at casaloma.org
Telephone: (416) 923-1171
Fax: (416) 923-5734

Art Gallery of Ontario

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:00:43 +0000

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto Ontario M5T 1G4
1-877-225-4246
416 979 6648

Founded in 1900 by a group of private citizens as the Art Museum of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a physical facility of 583,000 square feet. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) expanded it facility in 2008 with an innovative architectural design by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.

The Art Gallery of Ontario contains more than 5,000 works in 110 galleries. The layout of the Art Gallery is open and easy to navigate. The extensive use of glass allows for stunning views of the city from every direction.

AGO Art Collections

The Art Gallery of Ontario holds more than 79,000 works in its collection, which spans from 100 A.D. to present day.

The Canadian Collection

This collection documents the development of the Canada’s art heritage since pre-Confederation, including one of the largest and finest Inuit art collections in the world. The collection includes pivotal works by Cornelius Krieghoff, Lucius O’Brien, James Wilson Morrice, Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, David Milne, Emily Carr, Paul-Emile Borduas, Joyce Wieland, and Kenojuak Ashevak.

European Art

Masterpieces of European art include works by renowned artists such as Anthony van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough, Auguste Rodin, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and René Magritte.

Contemporary Art

The Art Gallery of Ontario maintains a comprehensive collection of Contemporary art spanning from 1960 to the present, reflecting global developments in artistic practice across all media, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, projection art, and installation art. This collection includes art from both Canadian and International artists.

Photography Collection

A collection of more than 40,000 photographs represents the emergence of the medium in all its artistic, cultural and social diversity.

The Thomson Collection

The Thomson Collection at the AGO includes a broad range of works, from European to Canadian art, ship models and decorative arts.

Directions and Map to the Art Gallery of Ontario

By Driving

From QEW: Merge onto the Gardiner Expressway. Turn left at the Spadina Ave exit. Continue north and turn right when you reach Dundas St West. You will see the AGO at the corner of Dundas Street and Beverly Street on your right side.

From 401: Take the Avenue Road exit and go south to Dundas Street. Turn right onto Dundas Street West and you will soon see the AGO at the corner of Dundas and McCaul on your left side.

From Airport: follow Highway 427 to Toronto via the QEW/Gardiner Expressway. Turn left at the Spadina Ave exit. Continue north and turn right when you reach Dundas St West. The AGO will be on the right hand side at Beverly Street.

By Subway

The St. Patrick stop on the Yonge-University-Spadina line is the closest stop to the AGO entrance. The closest accessible stop is Queen’s Park (College Street) or Osgoode (Queen Street).

Exit the subway station and walk west on Dundas St W towards Simcoe Street. You will pass the Village by the Grange building on the left. At McCaul Street, you will see the AGO on the left hand side. It is 3 blocks from University or a 5 minute walk to the AGO from St. Patrick station.

By Streetcar

Dundas: If you’re taking the 505 Dundas streetcar from the east, get off at McCaul Street. If you’re arriving from the west, get off at Beverly Street. The streetcar stops are located conveniently right in front of the AGO.

Spadina: If you are arriving on the 510 Spadina streetcar from the north or south, get off at Dundas Street and walk east along Dundas. You will see the AGO on the right hand side when you reach Beverly Street. It is 3 blocks from Spadina or about a 5 minute walk.

Map of the Art Gallery of Ontario?s Location

Art Gallery of Ontario Video

Contact the Art Gallery of Ontario

Email: Contact Form

General Information: 416 979 6648 / 1 877 225 4246 (toll-free)
Administration: 416 979 6660 or 416 977 0414

Art Camp Office: 416 979 6660 ext. 368
Art Rental + Sales: 416 977 4654
Corporate Membership: 416 979 6660 ext. 292
Donations to the AGO: 416 979 6619

Frank Restaurant: 416 979 6688
Gallery Shop: 416 979 6610
Membership Information: 416 979 6620
Photographic Resources: 416 979 6674
Public Programs: 416 979 6608
Resource Centres: 416 979 6642
School Programs: 416 979 6608
Volunteer Services: 416 979 6661