Bobcaygeon is town with some significant local claims to fame. The first lock of the Trent-Severn Waterway was built there in 1833, for instance, the kickoff to a process that would take 87 years to complete and transform the local landscape. Small wonder, then, that 19th and 20th century history is commemorated at Kawartha Settlers’ Village, a ten-acre living history museum.
Located right in town beneath the Bobcaygeon water tower, the village attracts local and international visitors with an interest in learning more about the region. Robyn Hoogenboom, the village’s marketing coordinator, describes it as “a historical tribute to what settler life was like in the Kawartha Lakes.” Over twenty historic buildings tell the story of the region from around 1850 to 1930, showcasing both the trappings of everyday life and the innovations that influenced it over the course of nearly a century.
That direct, sensory approach provides a unique angle on history that Hoogenboom argues is hard to get any other way. “In this day and age, you probably could find imagery or information online, and that’s great,” she says. “But what you would miss out on is actually being immersed into it, seeing it in real life and having it be tangible. You’re actually getting that experience of entering an 1800s home, or a woodworking shop or a shanty, a trapper’s cabin… Buildings that actually give you that sort of immersive experience into what it was like to live during that time.”
Hoogenboom jokes that Kawartha Settlers’ Village has “got one of everything,” because it was assembled from local buildings relocated to the area. The General Store was formerly a harness shop from downtown Bobcaygeon, for example, and now houses a range of items representative of the goods and services settlers would have regularly accessed. There visitors will find a post office and barber’s chair, in addition to a colorful assortment of era-appropriate objects behind the counter.
The natural environment has been considered as well, with the newly developed Discovery Trail that runs behind the village. Displays along the path educate visitors about native plant species, while the surrounding trees and shrubs offer some prime birdwatching. At under a kilometre, it’s an easy and relaxing way to take in the property from another angle.
The one building original to the site is the Murphy Barn, which Hoogenboom confesses a special fondness for. “The Murphy barn 100% is my favourite, just because there’s so many cool memories in there,” she says. “It’s such a hub for the village.”
The Murphy Barn is named after the Irish family who operated a dairy farm out of it, and that legacy is remembered with on-site displays. Today, however, the barn also serves as the venue for weddings and special events. “We have a multitude of annual events that are really, really fun and geared towards the whole family,” says Hoogenboom. “Lots of them are an annual tradition for people in the area and tourists who come—but I would say the biggest event we do annually is the Festival of Trees.”
From November 13-15 in 2026, the entire village becomes a “Christmas wonderland” decorated with garlands, wreaths, and trees. Through raffles and auctions, visitors get a chance both to bring home an immaculately ornamented tree, and to support the village’s operations for another year.
The Festival of Trees also provides an opportunity to see Kawartha Settlers’ Village outside of its standard season, which runs from May 1 to September 30. Visit SettlersVillage.org to check the schedule of events or learn more before planning a trip. “We got amazing feedback. People love it here—we get tourists from all over the world,” Hoogenboom says, with a sense of Bobcaygeon pride. “it’s a really amazing town with so much to do.”
Visit SettlersVillage.org to learn more, or follow Kawartha Settlers’ Village on Facebook and Instagram
