What To See

Bury House

Step into the past of a Victorian home built in 1881 with 8 furnished rooms. Experience the hominess of the kitchen, and the elegance of the dinning room filled with crystal, silver and china. Walk into an old time parlour and music room to learn about entertainment in the past, or dream in a child’s bedroom with period clothing and toys. The master bedroom displays turn of the century personal effects. We also have a collection of Dolls Through the Decades to experience!

Conference Room (Shawanese Hall)

Lectures are held in the fall and winter months and cover a variety of topics. Please see our events page for lecture topics and dates.

Rentals and Lectures

Conference room rentals are available for any meetings or events that may be suitible and include use of the kitchenette as well as optional use of electronics. For inquiries on renting the conference room please contact the museum. All contact information can be found by clicking on the “Contact Us” heading above.

Marine Room (Great Lakes Hall)

Our Marine Room illustrates the importance of the St.Clair River and Great Lakes to our history through photos, exhibits and nautical artifacts. It also features model ships such as The Q105, The Jay C. Morse, and the S.S. Assiniboia.

World War II Exhibit

This display features photographs, honorary metals, and heroic stories of locals who served in the war.

Log Cabin

Constructed in 1829 by Abraham Smith, the log cabin is the oldest building in Sombra. It was originally used as a temporary home and was later used as a milk house. It now features several old tools such as the shingle maker pictured above.

Walking Tour

Grab one of our walking tour maps and take a self-guided stroll through the beautiful waterfront town of Sombra while learning about the history of the town’s oldest buildings and the businesses that resided there. The walking tour includes 13 unique locations with historical photography and factual write-ups for each. You can also use our map to stop by some of the town’s current attractions along the way, such as the community dock and Crystal’s Ice Cream Shack. (Walk is approximately 2.5 km in total on paved walkways with minimal incline.)

History of the Museum

The Sombra Township Historical Society purchased the 1881 Bury house in 1958, with the objective to collect, exhibit and preserve the heritage of the Township. With the support of the community (financial aid, volunteers and artifact donors) and the drive of the Women’s Institutes (Becher, Thornyhurst, Wilkesport, Port Lambton, Sombra), the dream came true on June 19, 1959. Sombra Township Museum, as it was named, became the first museum in Lambton County!