Top

Cobourg announces free walking tours

By Cecilia Nasmith


The Town of Cobourg's marketing-and-events department announces a new partnership with the Cobourg Museum Foundation and the Marie Dressler Foundation to offer free Experience Cobourg Walking Tours to all during July and August.

The town's Experience Ambassadors will conduct the free tours Wednesdays through Sundays, beginning at 1 p.m. in the hobby at Victoria Hall (55 King St. W.), the press release said.

Each tour includes an historical overview of the development and restoration of the magnificent town hall, followed by tours of both the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre and the Marie Dressler Museum (where knowledgeable staff and volunteers will greet the visitors).

The Cobourg Museum Foundation (which operates the Sifton-Cook centre) was founded in 1999 with the goal of sharing the area's unique local history. Operating out of the town's oldest limestone building, it welcomes visitors to discover this history through photos, videos and interactive exhibits not to mention the 250-ft. 1/20-scale operating model of the Cobourg and Peterborough Railway running the length of the Ontario Street property.

Marie Dressler is considered one of the greatest comediennes of her generation (yes, that's what they used to call female comedians back in her day), as well as the highest-grossing film star in Hollywood at her peak. She won the 1931 Best Actress Oscar for her role as Min in the hit comedy Min and Bill. Two years later, she became the first actor and the first Canadian to make the cover of Time magazine. Visitors can learn more about this amazing life and career through interactive digital exhibitions on display at her birthplace, 212 King St. W.

The tours begin July 10 in front of Victoria Hall at 1 p.m. For more information, visit experiencecobourg.ca or call the Cobourg tourism hotline at 1-888-Cobourg (1-888-262-6874).