Enjoy guided walking tours of Toronto’s architecture and history
Lace up your shoes and discover the architecture, history and stories of Toronto through ROMwalks, a series of free guided walking tours of the city. Every year, from May to October, tour leaders from the Royal Ontario Museum’s (ROM) Department of Museum Volunteers guide the public through some of the city’s most distinctive neighbourhoods, visiting Toronto landmarks and illuminating their architectural and historical significance.
The 2009 ROMwalks series kicks off on Sunday, May 3 at 2 pm starting with Sacred Stones & Steeples, which highlights sacred buildings from Christian and other faiths, including St. James Cathedral, Metropolitan United Church, St. Michael's Cathedral and St. George's Greek Orthodox Church. There will be a special 175th Anniversary of Toronto Walk Saturday June 13, at 2:00 pm to celebrate the founding of the City of Toronto.
Launched in 1980, the ROMwalks repertoire continues to expand. This year 13 different walks will be featured with most offered four times during this ROMwalks season. In addition, there will be two ROMwalks PLUS.
Walks take place Sundays at 2:00 pm and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm with a duration of one and a half hours to two hours. Look for the blue ROM umbrella at the starting point of each ROMwalk. A complete schedule of ROMwalks with meeting points and highlights is provided below. Tours are free to the public and registration is not required, with the exception of private group walks and ROMwalks PLUS walks (see below). Please call 416.586.8097 or visit www.rom.on.ca for additional information.
ROMwalks 2009 at a glance – no reservations needed
Sunday, May 3, 2:00 pm - Sacred Stones & Steeples
Wednesday, May 6, 6:00 pm - The Annex
Sunday, May 10, 2:00 pm - Along the Front
Wednesday, May 13, 6:00 pm - Historic Toronto
Sunday, May 17, 2:00 pm: - The Danforth
Wednesday, May 20, 6:00 pm - Jarvis Street - Mansions & Churches of the Rich and Religious
Sunday, May 24, 2:00 pm - The Grange Neighbourhood
Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 pm - Yorkville - A Tollgate Village
Sunday, May 31, 2:00 pm - *No ROMwalk due to Doors Open
Wednesday, June 3, 6:00 pm - Hidden Treasures - Sculpture in the City
Sunday, June 7, 2:00 pm - The Necropolis (F)
Wednesday, June 10, 6:00 pm - ROM and its Neighbours
Saturday, June 13,, 2:00 pm - 175th Anniversary of Toronto Walk
Sunday, June 14, 2:00 pm - The Annex
Wednesday, June 17, 6:00 pm - Sacred Stones & Steeples
Sunday, June 21, 2:00 pm - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Part 1 (F)
Wednesday, June 24, 6:00 pm - The Danforth
Sunday, June 28, 2:00 pm - Hidden Treasures - Sculpture in the City
Wednesday, July 1, 6:00 pm - The Grange Neighbourhood
Sunday, July 5, 2:00 pm - Yorkville - A Tollgate Village
Wednesday, July 8, 6:00 pm - Jarvis Street - Mansions & Churches of the Rich and Religious
Sunday, July 12, 2:00 pm - ROM and its Neighbours
Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 pm - Along the Front
Sunday, July 19, 2:00 pm - Sacred Stones & Steeples
Wednesday, July 22, 6:00 pm - The Annex
Sunday, July 26, 2:00 pm - The Danforth
Wednesday, July 29, 6:00 pm - Hidden Treasures - Sculpture in the City
Sunday August 2, 2:00 pm - The Grange Neighbourhood
Wednesday, August 5, 6:00 pm - Yorkville - A Tollgate Village
Sunday, August 9, 2:00 pm - Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Part 1 (F)
Wednesday, August 12, 6:00 pm - ROM and its Neighbours
Sunday, August 16, 2:00 pm - Jarvis Street - Mansions & Churches of the Rich and Religious
Wednesday, August 19, 6:00 pm - Sacred Stones & Steeples
Sunday, August 23, 2:00 pm - The Necropolis (F)
Wednesday, August 26, 6:00 pm - The Danforth
Sunday, August 30, 2:00 pm - ROMwalk PLUS: Rosedale - Part Two
Wednesday, September 2, 6:00 pm - The Grange Neighbourhood
Sunday, September 6, 2:00 pm - Hidden Treasures - Sculpture in the City
Wednesday, September 9, 6:00 pm - Yorkville - A Tollgate Village
Sunday, September 13, 2:00 pm - The Annex
Wednesday, September 16, 6:00 pm - Jarvis Street - Mansions & Churches of the Rich and Religious
Sunday, September 20, 2:00 pm - Historic Toronto (F)
Sunday, September 27, 2:00 pm - ROMwalk PLUS: Whiskey, Wharf & Windmill
Sunday, October 4, 2:00 pm - ROM and its Neighbours
F=ROMwalk also available in French
ROMwalks PLUS Schedule:
This year there are two ROMwalks PLUS: Rosedale – Part Two and Whiskey, Wharf & Windmill. These paid walks cost $10 per person, with all proceeds going to the Museum. Advance registration is required; tickets must be reserved and paid for in advance. Cancellation and refund policies are in full effect. Please call 416.586.5799 to reserve tickets.
ROMwalks information:
175th Anniversary of Toronto Walk
Meet at St. James Park - next to St. James Cathedral - King and Church
Highlights: St. Lawrence Hall, Second City Hall, St. James Cathedral, Bank of Montreal, Dominion Bank, Gooderham Building, The National Club, Old City Hall, Osgoode Hall.
TTC Access: From King subway stop walk east along King St. to Church St.
Along the Front
Meet at Front & Jarvis Streets
Highlights: St. Lawrence Market, Old Warehouses, Flatiron Building, Berczy Park, BCE Place, Dominion Public Building, Royal Bank Plaza, Royal York Hotel, Union Station.
TTC Access: King streetcar to Jarvis St.
The Annex
Meet at Avenue Rd. & Lowther Ave.
Highlights: Medical Arts Building, First Church of Christ Scientist, York Club, and two styles of residential architecture unique to Toronto.
TTC Access: Museum or St. George (Bedford Rd. exit) subway stops
The Danforth
Meet at Danforth & Cambridge Ave. (North side of Danforth, one block West of Broadview Station)
Highlights: Prince Edward Viaduct, Danforth Music Hall, Playter Farmhouse, Carrot Common, Early 20th Century Churches, Owen Staples House, Riverdale Park.
TTC Access: Broadview Station
The Grange Neighbourhood
Meet at Dundas St. & McCaul St.
Highlights: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, George Brown House, John Cawthra House, Beverley Mansions, AGO, Italian Consulate, St. George the Martyr, The Grange.
TTC Access: St. Patrick Station, exit west
Hidden Treasures: Sculpture in the City
Meet at King & Church Streets
Highlights: Sculptures traditional and modern, beautiful and intriguing in the downtown area from the Sculpture Garden opposite St. James Cathedral to the Archer in City Hall Square.
TTC Access: King subway stop
Historic Toronto (English and French walks)
Meet at 260 Adelaide St. E.
Highlights: Toronto's First Post Office, Bank of Upper Canada, St. Lawrence Market, St. James' Cathedral, St. Lawrence Hall, Courthouse Square.
TTC Access: King streetcar to Jarvis St.
Jarvis Street: Mansions & Churches of the Rich & Religious
Meet at Bloor St. East & Church St.
Highlights: St. Paul’s Church,Victorian houses including Massey House, Jarvis Collegiate, Allan Gardens, Jarvis St. Baptist Church.
TTC Access: Bloor/Yonge Station.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery — Part One (English and French walks)
Meet at Yonge Street Cemetery Entrance (Yonge St., north of St. Clair Ave.)
Highlights: St. Andrew's Society Monument, Massey Mausoleum, Mt. Pleasant Mausoleum, Millionaires' Row, Empress of Ireland Monument
TTC Access: St. Clair subway stop
The Necropolis (English and French walks)
Meet at the Necropolis Chapel, 200 Winchester St.
Highlights: Graves of William Lyon Mackenzie, Peter Matthews and Samuel Lount, Ned Hanlon, George Brown, Thornton Blackburn, Joseph Bloore.
TTC Access: Carlton streetcar to Parliament St.
ROM and its Neighbours
Meet in front of the ROM on Bloor St.
Highlights: Royal Ontario Museum, Church of the Redeemer, Royal Conservatory of Music, Taddle Creek, Flavelle House, Gardiner Museum.
TTC Access: Museum or St. George subway stops
ROMwalks PLUS, Rosedale — Part Two
Reservations required
A continuation of the Rosedale walk, Rosedale – Part Two explores a different area of the early suburb of Rosedale, intended for Toronto’s wealthy and influential citizens.
ROMwalks PLUS, Whiskey, Wharf and Windmill
Reservations required
Highlights: the historic Distillery District, Little Trinity Church, Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, Consumers’ Gas Building.
Sacred Stones and Steeples
Meet at the northeast corner of Church St. & King St.
Highlights: Sacred buildings from Christian & other faiths, including St. James’ Cathedral, Metropolitan United Church, St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church.
TTC Access: King subway stops
Yorkville: A Tollgate Village
Meet in front of Yorkville Public Library, 22 Yorkville Ave.
Highlights: Yorkville Library, Firehall, Heliconian Club, 19th century houses, Hazelton Lanes, Church of the Redeemer .
TTC Access: Bloor/Yonge Station.
Private Group Walks:
Private group walks are available year round by special request for clubs, community groups, visitors and families. Group walks are $10 per person with a minimum of ten people. Please call 416.586.8097 for more information. All regular walks are available for Private Group Walks, as well as the additional walks listed below.
Cabbagetown
Highlights: Victorian Houses, Former Trinity College Medical School, Riverdale Park, The Necropolis, Wellesley Park.
Citadels of Wealth
Highlights: Hockey Hall of Fame, Early Skyscraper Banks, Canadian Bank of Commerce, the Big Five modern banks, BCE Place.
Entertainment District
Highlights: St. Andrew's Church, Roy Thomson Hall, Royal Alexandra & Princess of Wales Theatres, Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome), Metro Toronto Convention Centre, CN Tower.
Parkdale
Highlights: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Masaryk Hall, Melbourne Mews.