The Laura Secord Homestead is a restored historic home in the village of Queenston, just off the Niagara Parkway, and it tells the story of one of Canada's most celebrated figures. Laura Secord lived here from 1803 to 1835. During the War of 1812, her husband James was wounded at the Battle of Queenston Heights, and Laura brought him back from the battlefield. While he recovered, American officers were billeted in the family home, and Laura overheard them planning an attack. Unable to get word out through her injured husband, she is said to have walked about thirty-two kilometres to Beaver Dams, near Thorold, to warn the British Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. FitzGibbon's forces, with Haudenosaunee allies, then ambushed the American troops. The house was ransacked during the battle, but it has since been restored. Visitors tour the house, see historical artifacts and interact with displays, with costumed interpreters and staff sharing the details, and a Welcome Centre introduces the site. Timed ticketing applies, and admission is charged at modest rates, with reduced prices for children and free entry for infants. The homestead is seasonal and closed in the colder months, so check dates before you go. Allow about an hour, and pair it with Queenston Heights, which is a short drive away.
The story
The walk is one of the best-known episodes of the War of 1812 in Canadian memory, and the homestead gives it a domestic setting. Standing in the house, you see how an ordinary family was pulled into the war: a wounded husband, enemy officers at the table, a woman who had to decide whether to act. The interpreters tell the story with care and without melodrama, and the artifacts help to bring the early nineteenth-century household into focus. It is a small site, which suits those who like depth over spectacle.
How the visit works
You arrive at the Welcome Centre, buy a timed ticket and join the tour of the house, where interpreters in period dress explain the rooms and the family's life. The visit is short, and it is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace. Check the opening dates and the timed-ticket schedule before you drive over, because the homestead is closed for the season in the colder months. It is not a place for a rainy-day crowd, but it is a good stop for those who enjoy local history and a quieter pace.
Planning
Queenston is a charming village, and the homestead fits naturally into a drive along the Niagara Parkway, with Queenston Heights Park and Brock's Monument a few minutes away and the Niagara Glen and Whirlpool Aero Car in the other direction. If you are following the 1812 story, combine it with Fort George and Old Fort Erie. For families, the story of a determined woman and her long walk is easy to tell, and older children respond to it well.
It suits history-minded visitors and anyone looking for a gentle, human-scale stop on the way between the falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Go early in the visitor season for the quietest rooms, wear comfortable shoes for the village streets, and keep the rest of the day flexible: the homestead is brief, and the surrounding parkway, with its lookouts and picnic spots, rewards a slow drive. Confirm the opening dates and the timed-ticket schedule on the Niagara Parks site before you set out.
What to expect
The experience
A guided visit to a restored historic house in Queenston with costumed interpreters, artifacts and displays, plus a Welcome Centre. Timed ticketing applies.
Best time
The visitor season only; the site is closed in the colder months. Confirm dates and book a timed slot.
How long
About one hour.
Tips
Pair it with Queenston Heights Park and Brock's Monument, a short drive away. Check seasonal opening dates before you go.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers and families who enjoy a human-scale story.
- Families
- A clear, dramatic story that older children enjoy; short enough to hold attention.
- Couples
- A quiet stop on a scenic Niagara Parkway drive.
- Pair with
- Queenston Heights Park, Fort George and the Niagara Parkway.
- Time needed
- About an hour, or half a day with Queenston Heights.
Good questions
Who was Laura Secord?+
A Queenston resident who, during the War of 1812, is said to have walked about thirty-two kilometres to Beaver Dams to warn the British of a planned American attack.
Where is the homestead?+
In the village of Queenston, Ontario, just off the Niagara Parkway, a short drive from Queenston Heights Park.
Is it open year-round?+
No. It is closed in the colder months. Check Niagara Parks for the current season and hours.
Do I need tickets in advance?+
Timed ticketing applies, so book ahead for busy periods. Children aged three to twelve pay a reduced rate and infants are free.
What else is nearby?+
Queenston Heights Park and Brock's Monument are a few minutes away, and the Niagara Glen and Whirlpool Aero Car lie further south along the Parkway.
