Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum
The Best Hands-on Museum in Upper Canada
The restored home of rebel publisher William Lyon Mackenzie reveals 500 years of printing technology, amid the authentic ambiance of a period print shop. Rarest in the museum's collection is the Louis Roy Press, oldest in Canada and one of the few original wooden presses remaining in the world! A hands-on experience is encouraged with a working linotype and 8 operating heritage presses.
A joint venture was established in 1990 between The Niagara Parks Commission and a volunteer non-profit Printery Committee concerned with the preservation of printing equipment. To learn more about the Printery and upcoming events, visit Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum
Join Us For Our Upcoming Events
‘Simcoe Days’ at Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum: July 31 – August 2
The Civic Holiday is known as Simcoe Day in some parts of Ontario. Stop by the Mackenzie Printery on “Simcoe Day” and learn how the nation’s oldest printing press helped John Graves Simcoe shape the province of Upper Canada.
Doors Open Niagara: October 16 & 17
The Laura Secord Homestead and Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum both participate in this much anticipated Bi-National Doors Open Niagara weekend. For more information, please visit www.doorsopenniagara.ca. Free admission!
PLEASE NOTE: ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Please call (905) 262-5676 for more information.
Location: 1 Queenston Street, Queenston, Ontario, just a 15 minute drive north of the Falls on the scenic Niagara Parkway. This historic building is not wheelchair accessible.
Admission: Adults $4.75, Children (6 to 12 years) $3.65 (Canadian $ before taxes)
Children 5 years and under admitted for Free at all Niagara Parks attractions!
Hours of Operation - Subject to change:
May 2 to Labour Day, Daily 10 am to 4 pm
Group Tours available: call 1-877-642-7275 ext.2 to pre-book.
The Roy Press | Museum History
Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum Facts & Figures
- Is Canada's largest operating printing museum devoted to displaying historic presses covering more than 500 years of the letterpress printing era.
- Was the former home of "responsible government," where firebrand editor William Lyon Mackenzie began his publishing career with his newspaper, the Colonial Advocate, dedicated to political reform.
- Contains Canada's oldest press circa 1770. The Louis Roy Press was used to print Upper Canada's first newspaper, the Upper Canada Gazette or American Oracle, in 1793 at Newark, Ontario's first capital, now Niagara-on-the-Lake.
- Was reconstructed from ruins by The Niagara Parks Commission, the home of William Lyon Mackenzie was opened in 1938 by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, Mackenzie's great grandson.
- Features an informative display on William Lyon Mackenzie's home.
- Is located in the village of Queenston, 10 kilometres north of Niagara Falls, on the scenic Niagara Parkway; the mid-point between Niagara Falls, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Hands-on experience - Try your hand at setting type and working one of eight operating presses. Qualified staff provide guided tours of the site, interesting demonstrations and opportunities to "try it yourself". Working hot metal typecasters will cast type before your eyes.
