There’s a new spot for seeing a great view of Guelph’s downtown – namely, the glass enclosure of the new Guelph Civic Museum on Catholic Hill. The staircase inside the new enclosure is finally a place the public can get into, now that the museum has opened – in a low-key, unofficial sort of way.
A grand opening of the new museum is planned for the weekend of Feb. 24-26, but until then it is open daily to the general public from 1-5 p.m. for those wanting to take a sneak peak in advance. And admission is free until then.
Some of the museum isn’t operational yet, and the inside space won’t all be ready until the grand opening weekend. But there’s still quite a bit to see, in addition to the impressive view from the enclosure. The Royal City Families Gallery is open and it includes, among other things, a streetcar replica with scenes of St. George’s Square – both past and present – moving past its windows. This gallery, which has church-like stained glass windows evoking the Loretto convent’s history, includes a detailed aerial view of the city, as well as fun things for kids to do.
Meanwhile, two rooms that will be devoted to rotating exhibits have shows to see. One’s called “Illusions: When the Brain Gets It Wrong.” The other, called “12.12.12 – Life in Three Centuries,” gives a fascinating glimpse into fashion and life in general in 1812, 1912 and 2012.
It’s all worth a peak – a sneak peak.