One Museum, One Hundred Years
In 2025, Murney Tower Museum celebrated its 100th year of operation. To celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event with our community, we developed a Centennial Initiative featuring special educational and cultural projects and events to foster interest in Kingston’s history and increase access to Kingston’s arts and culture. With the support of all those who donated to the Centennial Initiative, we were able to bring two major projects to life.
The first, The Time-Travelling Adventures of Mr. Murney, was a children’s book developed in collaboration with Ontario-based illustrator Alex Lowe. Blending fact and imagination, the story introduces young readers to the history of Murney Tower and Kingston. Copies were distributed free of charge to local schools and arts organizations, and the book has already become a key part of our educational programming.
Our second project, Echoes: Reimagining Murney Tower, was a collaborative art exhibition with Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre. Featuring works by local artists, the exhibition delved into the history of Murney Tower, while also envisioning its contemporary significance and future possibilities. Each artwork explored themes of heritage, memory, transformation, and the intersection of past and present through diverse mediums and perspectives. The exhibition was on display at Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre in April 2025 and at Murney Tower Museum from May to September 2025.
Cover of "The Time-Travelling Adventures of Mr. Murney" by the Kingston Historical Society and illustrated by Alex Lowe.
Copies of "The Time-Travelling Adventures of Mr. Murney" at our 2025 opening event.
Our Museum Coordinator, Alexa, reading "The Time-Travelling Adventures of Mr. Murney" to children at Murney Fest 2025.
Tying the Knots: A Celebration of Sustainable Trading Artists: Jill Glatt, Géorgie Gagné
Letting Everyone In Artist: Monique Martin
Horn Artist: Gabriel Menotti
You Are Ahead by a Sentry Artist: Nancy Douglas
It Learned the Sky Artist: Roberto Santaguida
Museum staff with Ashleigh Arnold, representing Member of Parliament Mark Gerretsen, at our 2025 opening event.
These projects would not have been possible without the generous support of those who donated to our Centennial fundraising campaign. We would like to thank the following organizations, businesses, and individuals for their contributions to our Centennial Initiative. We are deeply grateful for your belief in our work and in the importance of preserving and reimagining Kingston’s history for generations to come.
If you would like to support our continued endeavours, you can donate here.
