Built in 1846, Murney Tower is part of a series of fortifications, Kingston’s Martello Towers, that were constructed in response to the Oregon Crisis. In 1925 it reopened as the Murney Tower Museum and is now open to the public for guided tours and visitation.
Murney Tower, along with other Martello Towers, Fort Henry, and Rideau Canal, are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Murney Tower has an extensive collection of objects that paint a detailed picture of Kingston’s past. Their collection has evolved over the decades, but today consists of over 1,300 artifacts, divided into three main collection areas: the Gardiner Collection, the McGregor/McIntyre Collection, and the General Collection.
These collection areas represent a number of different aspects of Kingston’s history, from its time as a British military stronghold to the domestic lives of residents in the early twentieth century. Taken together, the collection tells the captivating, conflicting, and sometimes troubling history of Kingston.
In 2025, Murney Tower celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Admission by donation.
See our story, A sentinel of history and heritage: the Murney Tower Museum to learn more about the Murney Tower Museum.
