Attractions

Perth Museum is inside the beautiful Matheson House at 11 Gore ST. E. You'll find period rooms representing the Matheson family's kitchen, dining room and drawing room in the 1840s, and the 1890s parlour. You'll also find exhibitions on the Marks Brothers, Lanark County geology, local sports history, Perth inventions and manufacturing history, breweries and distilleries, and more. 

Admission is by donation. Self-guided tours can be booked through Eventbrite.

Located on the second floor of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244, this is a unique museum containing thousands of military artifacts from the Boer War, World Wars, Korea and Afghanistan. The museum's signature displays are three large stained glass windows depicting the branches of the Armed services and an excellent collection of Canadian Victoria Cross winners and biographies. The Hall also has a collection of items representing foreign Military services and Canadian Peacekeeping, the library has a large collection of reading material and a resource centre.

Admission is free and access is by stairs and chair lift. Tours can be arranged by calling (613) 267-4400 or their website.

Did you know Perth is the last place in Canada where a fatal duel occurred? You'll find the original pistols housed in Perth Museum.

In the late 1800s the Basin area was busy with commercial and passenger boats. In the 1990s, the Crystal Palace was erected by the Perth Theatre Project as part of a planned development which did not materialize. The structure came from the Rideau Street Mall in Ottawa and the names of some of the merchants are still visible. The structure is currently home to the Perth Farmers’ Market on Saturdays throughout the summer.

From the Crystal Palace, you'll have a great view of the International Friendship Fountains, which were originally installed in 2004 with funding from the Rotary Club of Perth. The centre fountain represents the Town of Perth while the fountain on the left represents Perth’s Twin City of Perth, Scotland. The fountain on the right represents Perth’s Sister City, Asago, Japan.

Around the Tay Basin you can find several information panels, including the “Thousands of Years of Algonquin Homeland" panel, erected by Lanark County Neighbours for Truth and Reconciliation. 

What happens when your region's dairy producers get creative in 1893? You make a 22,000-lb block of cheese and send it to the Chicago World Fair via train - that's what you do! There's a good story behind the Mammoth Cheese - so much so that the unique idea is honoured with a replication! Check it out at the Crystal Palace. You can also see many original Mammoth Cheese artefacts in Perth Museum.

Donated to the Town in 2019 by Wildfire Barbecue, this big red chair resides along the Little Tay off Colebourne ST, between Gore ST E and Drummond ST E. Make sure you get a photo and use #PerthProud when you share it! 

The Perth Bandstand was erected in 1852. The area had previously been used as a Farmers’ Market where produce and live animals could be purchased. You can find it right behind Town Hall (80 Gore ST E) next to Stewart Park.

"Perth’s dry stone bridge has won commendation as the first National Civil Engineering Demonstration Site. The project was conceptualized by John Blands heritage masonry professor John Scott and it was designed by John Bland and built by Dry Stone Canada and international craftspeople." (John Bland Stonecraft, 2020)

This bridge was constructed (without mortar!) in 2016 as a bicentennial project in Perth. The neighbouring Terrace on the Tay was renovated shortly afterward and completed in 2019. 

The five acre Stewart Park is located in the heart of downtown Perth, nestled behind Town Hall between Mill and Herriott Streets. Stewart Park is known for its wide open spaces; gorgeous gardens; tall, mature trees; photogenic bridges over the rivers; and beautiful views of Code's Mill, Town Hall, Terrace on the Tay and the Perth water tower. It is a popular location for weddings and the home of the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA's Stewart Park Festival.   

From Stewart Park, stroll down to the end of Mill ST to see the Rocky Ramps. 

We're honoured that Canadian Olympian Ian Millar calls Perth home. The Equestrian rider won bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Before that, Millar and his horse, Big Ben, accomplished some amazing things together. As a tribute to their long-standing partnership, a beautiful bronze statue was erected in Perth. Check it out across from Code's Mill.

Code’s Mill is a collage of five different buildings dating from 1842. T.A. Code moved to Perth in 1876 and shortly thereafter acquired the mill. The mill is now home to many businesses, including Fiddleheads Bar & Grill, Kelly's Flowers and Gifts, Perth Chocolate Works, Blackfly Grub Hub, Concave Art Gallery and Widdershins Canada. It is also a popular wedding and event venue. 

Painted in 1988 by Craig Campbell, The Fox Mural has been a popular heritage destination in Perth, being the back drop for many wedding photos and tourists alike. The story behind the wall comes from Craig himself: after dissolving his marriage, he found himself needing a place to live. The owner of The Red Fox, Larry Geroux, offered to let Craig stay in an upstairs band room if Craig could clean it up. In exchange for lodging, eating, and drinking at the Fox, the owner asked for Craig to paint the back wall which is how the “Welcome To Perth” mural came to fruition.

The cannons are old. Like, seriously old. They're actually older than the Courthouse they're sitting in front of! A relic of the American Revolutionary War, they're some of the only surviving three-pounder artillery pieces produced specifically for an army led by British General John Burgoyne, which campaigned in Canada and Northern New York before surrendering to the Americans at Saratoga, New York in October of 1777.

The Round Garden for the Blind was especially designed to accommodate the needs of the blind, the elderly and the developmentally challenged. This garden, with its waist-high plant boxes, encourages visitors to feel the leaves and flowers, smell the fragrances, taste the herbs and listen to the birds and the water splashing in the fountain. Built and maintained by Friends of the Garden for the Blind, the Round Garden is visited by more than 5,000 people each year! Check it out at the Lanark County Administration Building at 99 Christie Lake Road.

The Flag Garden was created in 1925 by Philip J. McParlan. You can find it on the east bank of the Tay River at the edge of the Basin. The best place to view it from is the sidewalk on the Gore St E bridge between Maximilian's Restaurant (99 Gore ST E) and The Butcher's Edge (109 Gore ST E). The Flag Garden is maintained by Perth & District Horticultural Society volunteers. Member Lynda Haddon even wrote a book about the history of the Flag Garden, which you can find in the Perth Museum and Visitor Information Centre gift shop.  

When you make your way into Perth, you'll be amazed by the gorgeous heritage buildings lining the streets and the passageways that once served as horse lanes. With a Scottish influence, many of Perth's stone buildings were crafted by masons, making them a long-standing backdrop to the town's landscape. Check out the Tours page of the website for more information. 

Check out the attractions map in the paddling section of the Outdoor Adventure page! You'll find boat launches, lock stations, docks, and equipment rental locations, too.