Welcome to the birthplace of Toronto

The settlement of modern Toronto began in 1793 when Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe built a garrison on the present site of Fort York. Fearful of war with the United States, Simcoe planned to establish a naval base at Toronto in order to control Lake Ontario. Simcoe also moved the Capital to Toronto from the exposed border town of Niagara. Civilian settlement followed and a community named York began to grow two kilometres east of the fort (York was renamed Toronto in 1834). In 1812, the United States declared war and invaded Canada. On the 27^th of April 1813, the U.S. Army and Navy attacked York with 2,700 men on 14 ships and schooners. The defenders put up a strong fight but fell back to Fort York in the face of overwhelming odds, eventually abandoning the fort and town to the enemy. In the autumn of that year, the British returned to Toronto and built the fortification that stands today. Fort York’s cannon and earthworks became obsolete in the 1880s, although the army continued to use the fort for training, barracks, offices and storage until the 1930s. Fort York opened as an historic site museum in 1934.

Today, Fort York is home to Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. The Fort is open year round and offers a number of services, including tours, exhibits, period room settings and seasonal demonstrations. During the summer months, the site comes alive with the colour and the pageantry of the Fort York Guard. The Fort also provides a wide variety of education programs for groups of all ages.

How To Get There

Location: Fort York is located at 250 Fort York Blvd. (Off Fleet St., east of Strachan Avenue, West of Bathurst St., just north of Fort York Blvd.)

Directions: From Gardiner eastbound and Gardiner westbound.

From Gardiner eastbound: exit at Lakeshore Blvd., proceed past the C.N.E., turn left at Fort York Blvd., left at entrance way, right on Garrison Road to parking lot located at West Gate.

From Gardiner westbound: take Spadina offramp and keep right for Lakeshore Blvd. to Fort York Blvd.

Click here for more maps from the City of Toronto.

Public Transit Directions: Take the 511 streetcar south from Bathurst subway station.  There is a foot bridge connecting Bathurst Street to the fort's eastern gate.

Click here for the Toronto Transit Commission's web site.

Parking: Parking while visiting Fort York is available free of charge in our main lot situated at the West Gate entrance via Fort York Blvd. Parking for other purposes is available for a fee. Proceeds of parking support Fort York and the Fort York Guard and Drums. All parking is wheelchair accessible. 

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Admission Fees and Hours of Operation

Regular: $8.61, Seniors: $4.31, Youth: $4.31, Children: $3.23, Children 5 and under: FREE
(all prices include HST and are in Canadian dollars)

May 19 – September 2,  10:00am – 5:00pm daily

Sept. 4 – Dec. 16,  Weekdays 10:00am – 4:00pm, Weekends 10:00am – 5:00pm

Dec. 18 – Jan. 1,  Fort York is closed to the public for the holidays

January 2 – May 18,  Weekdays: 10:00am – 4:30pm, Weekends: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Contact Information

For further information and inquiries please contact Fort York.  For concerns related to the Friends of Fort York, please contact them directly.

Telephone

416-392-6907

 

FAX

416-392-6917

 

Postal addresses

Fort York National Historic Site
250 Fort York Boulevard
Toronto, ON M5V 3K9

The Friends of Fort York,
260 Adelaide St. E.,
P.O. Box 183,
Toronto, ON., M5A 1N1

 

Electronic mail

Fort York Information: fortyork@toronto.ca
Friends of Fort York: fofy@sympatico.ca
Webmaster: