Goderich Square & Huron Historic Gaol
Goderich
A lakeside port town known for its octagonal central square and courthouse. The 19th-century octagonal jail is now a museum, and the waterfront is good for watching the sunset.
Goderich lies about 70 km northwest of Stratford. Laid out in 1827 around an octagonal square, with the county courthouse at its center and eight streets radiating outward, it is known as 'Canada's most beautiful town.' The Huron Historic Gaol near the square was built in 1841, and its distinctive octagonal stone building is well preserved. It is now open to visitors along with the Huron County Museum (admission about CAD 15; shorter opening hours in winter). On the western waterfront there are wooden boardwalks, sandy beaches, a salt-mine harbour and a lighthouse, and the evening sunset is excellent.
Opening hours
All day; prison museum about 10:00 am–4:30 pm (check the official website)
Nearby sights
- Bayfield
- Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
- Stratford Perth Museum
- Shakespearean Gardens
- Downtown Stratford & City Hall
- Avon Theatre
- Tom Patterson Theatre
- Avon River & Lake Victoria