city hall tours kingston

Kingston City Hall

Discover Kingston City Hall, one of the finest 19th century architectural wonders in Ontario. Home to the administrative and governing body of the City of Kingston, the Kingston City Hall is a national historic site that occupies a full city block facing a vista of Lake Ontario.

Kingston City Hall is located in downtown Kingston in Ontario. Its location makes it a prime spot to take in the sights of Kingston, explore downtown or simply gaze out at Lake Ontario.

For up-to-date information and details about Kingston City Hall, we recommend that you visit the Kingston City website . To discover points of interest to explore nearby, keep on scrolling to see a list of Destination Ontario’s recommendations.

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Kingston City Hall is the seat of local government and stands out from nearby establishments and buildings with its distinctive neoclassical style. Its characteristic tholobate and dome make it instantly recognizable as a Kingston landmark, its scale and beauty was designed to reflect its status as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1844.

After a fire in 1840 destroyed much of downtown Kingston, a new municipal building was proposed to be built. Being the capital of the new Province of Canada at the time, a magnificent town hall was in order. The Kingston City Hall started construction in 1843 and was built with limestone in the shape of a “T.” When the seat of government transferred to Montreal in 1844, spaces in Kingston City Hall were rented out to businesses like saloons, dry goods stores, churches, banks, and post offices.

Kingston City Hall is open to the public during Doors Open Ontario, when museums, historical sites and galleries all over Ontario provide free entry to the public. Visitors will be given the chance to observe the neoclassical interiors of Kingston City Hall and learn about its combined functions as a city hall, events center and marketplace.

For the rest of the year, visitors can freely explore the Springer Market Square located behind the Kingston City Hall. It is home to the  Kingston Public Market , a seasonal farmers’ market. In operation since 1801, it is open from April until November, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Lovers of all things vintage will appreciate the antiques market that is open on Sundays, while skaters will enjoy gliding around its skating rink in the winter. Visitors can also take a break and watch a free movie played on a big screen in the square on Thursdays in the summer.

Kingston City Hall is a great starting point for visitors wishing to get to know the waterfront city of Kingston. With a dazzling view of Lake Ontario, Kingston City Hall is also within walking distance of several renowned Kingston attractions. Visitors who love old locomotives will want to take a look at the restored historic train called “Spirit of Sir John A,” located across the street in Confederation Park. Filled with benches and sprawling lawns, Confederation Park is the perfect vantage point to view Lake Ontario after exploring Kingston City Hall and Springer Market Square. Drop by the Visitor Information Centre – the former Kingston and Pembroke Railway Station (K&P Station) in Confederation Park – to pick up a souvenir, or partake in Kingston’s many exciting walking tours such as the Kingston Food and Beer Tours or the Haunted Walk of Kingston.

Last updated:  August 18, 2023

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KINGSTON Walking Tours

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Meet Arthur Milnes

It's Arthur’s exceptional storytelling and little-known anecdotes that make the hour-long walking tours of historic downtown so unique.

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Journey into a world of Canadian Prime Ministers, US Presidents, Indigenous leaders, Governors General, mediums, spirits and the Queen, herself.

Kingston Walks

Join us on the arthur milnes walking tour.

Embark on a walking tour with Arthur Milnes and begin your journey into a world of Canadian Prime Ministers, US Presidents, Indigenous leaders, Governors General, mediums, spirits and even the Queen, herself. Purchase tickets at Waterfront Gifts & Apparel , 248 Ontario St. or Buy Online .

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Explore Kingston, Ontario

Kingston is a vibrant town in Eastern Ontario, rich in Canadian history and culture. Our close proximity to the famous Thousand Islands region attracts tourists from all over the world to visit, stay and explore the area. As the largest city to border the Canadian side of the Thousand Islands, Kingston offers plenty to see and do:

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Historic Sites To See

City Hall, St. George’s Cathedral and Confederation Park are a few of the sites you’ll see along your walking tour. Every Kingston landmark has its own unique history!

Learn As You Walk

Learn how the city of Kingston came to be; once destroyed, later rebuilt into the beautiful place you’re exploring today.

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KINGSTON Trolley Tours

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On the Trolley

Staring March 16th: Explore Canada’s first Capital, on a guided, 1-hour Trolley Tour through downtown covering all of Kingston’s historic old town and downtown shopping district.

Join Our Crew

We're hiring for seasonal positions onboard and onshore. Join a dedicated team working in the heart of Kingston assisting guests in learning about our vibrant and historic city.

Private Charters

Kingston’s classic red Trolleys are available for private charter: transport your group in style, enjoy a private tour or hold an iconic photo op with your wedding party.

Kingston Trolley Tours offers tours of historic Kingston, Ontario, aboard four comfortable thirty-two passenger trolleys. The Trolley is the ideal way to explore Kingston’s history and attractions, and is also available for Private Charter .

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VISIT KINGSTON AND THE ISLANDS

Kingston is a vibrant town in Eastern Ontario, rich in Canadian history and culture. Our close proximity to the famous 1000 Islands region, attracts tourists from all over the world to visit, stay and explore the area. As the largest city to border the Canadian side of the 1000 Islands, Kingston offers plenty to see and do including cruises, trolley tours, and more:

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The Trolley takes you on an in-depth tour of Kingston’s historic downtown and waterfront, passing by the city’s most popular visitor sites and attractions.

Your experienced tour guide provides an informative, engaging overview of these iconic sights highlighting Fort Henry, Queen’s University campus and the infamous Kingston Penitentiary.

We had a great experience and spent the rest of the night sharing key facts that we didn’t realize before. Brian did such a great job educating us on the tour. Thanks again to you and your team for putting this together and ensuring we had a fantastic evening. Trolley Charter Client

The trolley was a wonderful way to see everything! It saved finding a parking spot and getting lost. My daughter, her sons and I had a wonderful experience in Kingston. The trolley drivers were very informative and answered a variety of questions. Trolley Tour Guest

News from Kingston, Ontario

Guided tours of kingston city hall open for the season.

RELEASE — Beginning June 10, residents and visitors are invited to learn about Kingston City Hall’s fascinating history, beautiful architecture – and about the intriguing people, events, and stories associated with this National Historic Site.

Kingston City Hall’s attractions include one of the finest collections of mayoral portraits in North America, with 61 portraits dating as far back as the 1840s. The tour also includes visits to the 1840s jail cells in the lockup gallery, inside City Hall’s clock tower, Memorial Hall and more.

“Our volunteers, students, and staff are excited to welcome visitors back into City Hall” says Kevin Gibbs, Manager, Heritage Programming. “City Hall tours provide an opportunity to learn about Kingston’s diverse communities, local history and government, while exploring the architecture and features of an important national historic site.”

The free guided tours last approximately 45 minutes and run:

• Monday through Saturday
• 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tours start in the main lobby of City Hall and can be enjoyed on a drop-in basis. For the best experience, tours are limited to 20 people so you can guarantee your space by signing up in advance for the next session at the tour desk located in the main lobby.

Advance notice is requested for groups larger than 6 people and school groups. To book your free group tour of City Hall, email [email protected] or call 613-544-7867.

Tours are offered in French, German, Mandarin and Turkish, to arrange a tour in one of these languages call 613-544-7867.

City Hall is located at 216 Ontario St., and easily accessible from public transit with nearby stops being King Street E. at City Hall (east side) and City Hall (north side of Brock). There are also several parking options including on street and municipal lots. See a full list of downtown municipal lots here

City Hall has an amazing team of volunteer tour guides and ambassadors each year who share stories about the artifacts, historic figures and portraits housed inside City Hall. Are you interested in becoming a City Hall tour guide? New volunteer guides are always needed and interested persons are encouraged to contact us for more information by emailing [email protected] or call 613-544-7867.

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Visit Kingston City Hall

This historic government building is situated in Kingston , a place that has plenty of things going for it! Queen's University, Kingston Waterfront, and Kingston Penitentiary are other interesting sightseeing choices not far away when you're done at Kingston City Hall.

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Welcome to the City of Kingston, NY

Kingston, dating to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652, is a vibrant city with rich history and architecture, was the state's first capital, and a thriving arts community. City Hall is in the heart of the community at 420 Broadway, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except July & August (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).  Come tour our historic City, with restaurants that are among the region's finest, and local shopping that promises unique finds.

Historic Churches

Kingston is home to many historic churches. The oldest church still standing is the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston which was organized in 1659. Referred to as The Old Dutch Church, it is located in Uptown Kingston. Many of the city's historic churches populate Wurts street (6 in one block) among them Hudson Valley Wedding Chapel is a recently restored church built in 1867 and now a chapel hosting weddings. Another church in the Rondout is located at 72 Spring Street. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1849. The original church building at the corner of Hunter Street and Ravine Street burned to the ground in the late 1850s. The current church on Spring Street was built in 1874.

Kingston, NY

Kingston became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British on October 13, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga. In the 19th century, the city became an important transport hub after the discovery of natural cement in the region, and had both railroad and canal connections.

The town of Rondout, New York, now a part of the city of Kingston, became an important freight hub for the transportation of coal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to New York City through the Delaware and Hudson Canal. This hub was later used to transport other goods, including bluestone. Kingston shaped and shipped most of the bluestone made to create the sidewalks of New York City.

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City Hall Address: 420 Broadway Kingston, New York 12401 Phone: (845) 331-0080 Email: [email protected]

Kingston News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2024

Winning Design for Post Office Park Small Monument Competition Announced

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the winning design of the Post Office Park Small Monument Competition is by Hudson Valley sculptor and architect Richard Scherr.

Richard Scherr was an architect and instructor of architectural design for over 40 years and is an author on design theory. He currently practices as a sculptor in his Kingston area studio.

“We are honored and fortunate, through the American Rescue Plan Act, to be able to commission the creation of a public artwork commemorating the original post office,” said Mayor Noble. “This sculpture will highlight the crucial role our architectural assets play in Kingston’s cultural heritage—and also our commitment to advancing a vibrant and enduring arts sector for the entire community.”

Launched in April, the Small Monument Competition called for proposed monument concepts to be fabricated and permanently installed at the new Post Office Park , which is currently being constructed at the corner of Broadway and Prince Street. Applicants were asked to provide design concepts that pay homage to the post office that stood on the site but was razed during urban renewal in 1970. Built between 1904-1908, the building was a notable limestone and granite structure with a rounded façade with Classical and Beaux Arts elements.

Fabricated in steel, the work will feature a representation of the iconic post office cupola, leaning as if in a state of falling, and supported with eight poles symbolizing resistance to the building's destruction. It will be placed on a round pedestal near the entrance to Post Office Park’s south side at Broadway and Grand Street.

“My goal with this project is to provide a visual reminder of the building, using the cupola to represent this treasured example of historic architecture that was lost," said Scherr. “Together, the cupola and supporting poles will be a visceral statement not only of the destruction, but also the redeeming spirit of resistance to such an act, in the hope that it never be allowed to happen again.”

In the coming months, Scherr will finalize the design and work with his fabricator to create final drawings that will be posted on EngageKingston.com. Installation at Post Office Park is expected to take place in late June 2025.

The Post Office Park Small Monument Competition was made possible with funding from the U.S. Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

More information at https://engagekingston.com/post-office-park-small-monument-competition-winner-announced .

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Events in K-Town

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Neptune and Salacia diving and snorkeling

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Sick City: Outdoor Guided Walking Tour

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June 15, 2024

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Music Tours

Various locations

Literary Tours

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Starts at Visitor Information Centre

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Visit the Museum of Health Care

Murney Tower Museum Tours

Murney Tower Museum

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Boat and Bike Rentals with Ahoy Rentals

Ahoy Rentals

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Bellevue House National Historic Site

Bellevue House

June 16, 2024

Drag Me to Brunch Pride Edition

The Wharf and Feather

Wharf and Feather

Kingston City Hall Free Guided Tours

Kingston City Hall

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Book a tour of the Military Communications and Electronics Museum

Military Communications and Electronics Museum

Weekly on Mon

Trivia Games at One Eyed Jack Every Monday

One Eyed Jack Restaurant & Bar

Tour the S.S. Keewatin

Great Lakes Museum

June 18, 2024

PAINT NIGHT Let's Get Colourful at BLUMartini

Weekly on Wed

Peace & Quiet @ The Spire

Weekly on Wed / Thu / Fri

City Sips.....a walking wine tour

Board Games at One Eyed Jack Every Wednesday

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Stories in the Square

Springer Market Square

June 20, 2024

Turmeric Anthotype Prints Workshop

Tett Centre for Creativity + Learning

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June 21, 2024

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Amherstview Golf Club

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