A Bowmanville one day itinerary can pair a stroll through the town centre with a visit to Waverley Place Museum, formerly known as Bowmanville Museum. Bowmanville is a community in the Municipality of Clarington, in Ontario’s Durham Region, and the museum is open by appointment only, so arrange your visit before setting out.
- Start: Walk through Bowmanville town centre.
- Next: Visit Waverley Place Museum at 37 Silver Street by appointment.
- Optional stop: Port Darlington East Beach Park is at 54 East Beach Road.
- Parking: Downtown on-street rules vary by day and time.
Start in Bowmanville town centre
Begin your Bowmanville day trip with a walk around the town centre, then make your way to Silver Street for the museum visit. Bowmanville became an incorporated town in 1858. In 1974, it joined the neighbouring townships of Clarke and Darlington to form the Town of Newcastle, renamed the Municipality of Clarington in 1994.
If you’re driving, downtown on-street parking is paid Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a two-hour maximum. Parking is free outside those hours, including weekends and statutory holidays, with a three-hour limit.
On-street parking is prohibited from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. year-round. You can pay by coin at a meter or use the HotSpot Parking app; the municipality also identifies five municipal parking lots downtown.
Visit Waverley Place Museum
Waverley Place Museum offers a local-history stop in a building at 37 Silver Street that was originally built in 1847. Sarah Jane Williams bought the building in 1961, and it became the Bowmanville Museum. Clarington Library, Museums & Archives now uses the name Waverley Place Museum.
The museum is open by appointment only, and you’re asked to book a visit. Find it at 37 Silver Street, Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3C4. For more background and visitor details, read the Bowmanville Museum visiting guide.
You can call the museum at 905-623-2734 to arrange a visit.
Allow time for a local break
For an outdoor stop, Port Darlington East Beach Park is at 54 East Beach Road in Bowmanville. You can include it as a separate stop in your day; the available itinerary facts don’t establish a travel time from the town centre or museum.
The Clarington Public Library Bowmanville Branch is at 163 Church Street, and a mobility-device charging station is available there.
How do you plan hours, access and local transport?
Book the museum appointment before you plan the rest of the day around it. For current opening and access details, check the official site before you go. Clarington provides a Bowmanville street map and a separate map of municipal parking lots. For practical transport checks, see getting around Bowmanville.
You can call the museum at 905-623-2734 to arrange a visit.
Liberty Inn is about a 23-minute walk or 4-minute drive from Waverley Place Museum, and you can review the inn’s guest rooms when planning your stay.
FAQs
Is Bowmanville Museum the same as Waverley Place Museum?
Yes. The museum formerly known as Bowmanville Museum is now called Waverley Place Museum by Clarington Library, Museums & Archives.
Can you visit Waverley Place Museum without booking?
The museum is open by appointment only, and visitors are asked to book a visit.
Where is Waverley Place Museum?
It is at 37 Silver Street, Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3C4.