McCrae House is the birthplace of John McCrae (1872-1918), doctor, soldier and author of “In Flanders Fields”, the poem that captured the sentiments of World War I and is still recited today, almost 100 years later.
Section of McCrae monument
McCrae House is owned and operated by the City of Guelph and in conjunction with Guelph Civic Museum. A joint admission ticket is available for both museums.
McCrae House is located at:
108 Water Street
Guelph, ON NIG 1A6 �
519-836-1221
(direct phone line 519-836-1482 – answered during gallery hours only)
| A Brief History of McCrae House McCrae House is the birthplace of John McCrae (b. 1872- d. 1918), doctor, soldier and author of the famous First World War poem In Flanders Fields. This small limestone cottage, built c.1858, was owned by the McCrae family from 1870 to 1873. Other families occupied the house until 1966, when a group of Guelph citizens purchased the building with the intention of preserving it as a museum. This group formed the Lt. Col. John McCrae Birthplace Society and began to raise money for its restoration.The federal government through the Historic Sites & Monuments Board has designated both John McCrae as a person of national significance, and the house as a place of national significance. The operation of the museum was transferred to the City of Guelph in 1983 and along with Guelph Civic Museum, was merged under the name Guelph Museums.  Spring at McCrae House McCrae House contains both permanent and temporary exhibition space that interprets the life and times of John McCrae. Yearly themes are offered. Summer activities include Poppy Push, Canada Day, Teddy Bear Picnic, History Camp and special teas in the garden. Our gardening volunteers have worked to create an award-winning garden reflecting the time period of the mid to late 1800s.
Research Requests: Research fees apply. The basic research fee is the same as admission fees (adults $4.00, seniors, children and students $3.00). There are also fees for photocopies, photo reproduction, scanning of images and mailing costs. Complete details are available in our “Research at Guelph Museums” brochure. To make a research appointment, contact the Assistant Curator at (519) 836-1221 ext. 2776 or kathleen.wall@guelph.ca
Change of Hours of Operation Effective April 1, 2013 McCrae House will be closed on Mondays. New Hours of Operation: Sunday – Open 1 pm – 5 pm Tuesday to Friday – Open 1 pm – 5 pm Saturdays & Mondays – Closed McCrae House is open to the public: |
