*** What does Justin Bieber, a revolutionary steam-powered car, and nearly 200 years of Stratford history have in common? You can find all three at the Stratford Perth Museum, and that’s exactly where our latest Daytrippen adventure took us.
We’ve travelled through Stratford many times on our way to London or heading toward the sandy beaches of Lake Huron. But this time was different. We were day-trippen specifically to see what Stratford had to offer.
After doing some research, we discovered there are plenty of interesting places to visit and do, and the Stratford Perth Museum was high on our list for many reasons.
One stop is, Justin Bieber “Return to Stardom Exhibit.”
For those who don’t know, Justin Bieber is one of Stratford’s most famous celebrities. The talented pop artist and musician has collected numerous awards throughout his career, and his music has incorporated elements of R&B, dance, and electronic music. Very popular with younger audiences.
Whatever you think of his music, one thing is certain: **Justin Bieber was born and started his pop career right here in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. The same city that holds North America’s largest classical repertory theatre, the “Stratford Festival.” Anyone in film or on-stage acting has heard of this unique place.
The Stratford Perth Museum.
** So, it’s only fitting that the Stratford Perth Museum would recognize some of the people, businesses, and events that helped shape this community.
Located just outside the city limits, the museum pays tribute to Stratford’s history and its people. And while Justin Bieber gets plenty of attention, he’s certainly not the only interesting story here.
After reading about the museum online, our Daytrippen adventure to the Stratford Perth Museum became my first stop.
This museum is reasonably small compared to the bigger centres, but it’s very well-organized, and a surprising number of themes and exhibits packed inside.
Among them are:
** Railway Century**
** Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom**
** Hidden Qualities: Kroehler Manufacturing Company**
** Who Was Tom Patterson?**
** The Car That Ran on Hot Air – The Brooks Steam Car**
** Perth UP: A Retrospective of Duty and Valour**, a tribute to the area’s military men and women
** Fire, Fire, Fire**, covering nearly 200 years of firefighting in the county
** Heralding the Word**, an exhibit dedicated to local newspapers such as The Stratford Beacon Herald, along with historic printing presses
And that’s just the beginning. The museum also holds more than 20,000 artifacts that are on display.
Their website describes the experience as travelling “back in time” through almost 200 years of local history. I describe it as an afternoon, daytrippen adventure.
And you know what? They weren’t kidding.
Final comment:
The museum was impressively done. I spent a few hours looking and wondering why other major cities do not have the same tribute to their communities.
Just by walking through the Justin Bieber exhibit and seeing how his career developed.
From a young musician playing for loose change on City Hall steps to stardom. That was an interesting fact. Even for someone who isn’t a huge pop-music fan.
The exhibit showed the achievements of a young Stratford boy who eventually became an international superstar. There was even a blackboard set-up where Justin’s fans could leave messages and show their appreciation for the pop star.
In my estimation, that was a nice touch.
The Bieber’s Stratford Story alone was worth the drive.
But being that I am a Car Guy, this was my highlight.
I have to admit, being a gear jammer/car guy, the Brooks Steam Car was more on my agenda. And I wasn’t disappointed.
The Brooks Steam Car was a fascinating piece of Stratford history and, for me, one of the highlights of the visit. Although a small display, I did take many photos of the car from every angle posible. The boiler and steam section, ‘where a normal gas engine would sit’ was, to say the least, an interesting concept.
But that’s the beauty of this museum. You don’t have to be a Justin Bieber fan to enjoy it. We spent about two hours wandering through the different exhibits and discovering pieces of Stratford’s past.
One Small Complaint or Observation.
I don’t give the museum five happy faces without mentioning one thing that could have been better.
The young receptionist was quite informative when I asked specific questions about what to expect inside the museum. However, I felt she could have been a little more forthcoming about everything available on the property.
Example, Initially, I didn’t know about the outside grounds, the walking trail, or the “huge teepee,” located on the property.
And I looked for a plaque explaining the reason for the teepee, but I couldn’t find one. But I did find a plaque commemorating the first settlers of the area. And … I did take many colourful photographs for my album collection. That was a bonus.
Doing a walk-about through the grounds was another little surprise that I might have missed, if I hadn’t gone exploring.
Was It Worth the Drive? >>> Absolutely.<<<
- Seeing how a young kid from Stratford worked his way up into the entertainment business is a good reminder that hard work and perseverance can pay off. And it certainly did for Justin Bieber, sitting on the steps playing toons to anyone who was listening. And someone was.
After spending a few hours exploring the museum, it was time to leave. But before I headed out, I had one last question for the receptionist.
I asked: “Does Justin Bieber ever stop in and say hi when he’s in town?” Her answer? **“He has been here many times—but not today.”
“Darn! I would have gotten his autograph.”
- But I did get to see the Brooks Steam Car, which was revolutionary in its day. And for you gearheads, car guys, “that was worth the trip alone“
Travel Times and Admission
I hour drive from Kitchener, 2 hours from Toronto, and 1 hour from London. >>Very central and definitely worth a visit.<< > “And you can still be home for supper. That’s a bonus.”
Admission (includes tax!)
Adults $15
Seniors, students $12
Children (age 6-12) $7 (5 and under free)
Families (two adults + two children 6-12) $30
Hours
10-4 Seven days a week
Closed: Good Friday, Dec 23, 24, 25, Jan 1
Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom- VIP Exhibit Tour
is priced at $36.70 CAD. Phone for more information.
Travel Time
The Stratford Perth Museum is about an hour’s drive from Kitchener, roughly two hours from Toronto, and about an hour from London.
Word of Wisdom to daytrippers.
Daytrippen Advice: You don’t need to book a flight to take a vacation.
Explore the small towns in your own backyard. Get lost in the local lore, take in the sights, walk the main street, and find your new favourite getaway close to home. And bonus — you can still be home for supper.**
5 stars all the way
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Worth the Drive
- Travel Time: ★★★★☆
- Family Friendly: ★★★★★
- Photography: ★★★★★
- Value for Money: ★★★★☆
- Would We Return? Absolutely!
Read more fun sites @ Destination Ontario 🔗
Recommended day tripping bus tours. 🔗
- I hope this DayTrippen Adventure review helps you plan your next Ontario getaway. Happy travelling! If you would like to contribute to Daytrippen Travels and reviews, here is a PayPal link for your convenience. And I thank you in advance. Dave
