| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Friday | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Saturday | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Sunday | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
Recommended: $5 to $10 per individual or $20 per family
Adamson Estate is a heritage property in Mississauga’s Lakeview neighbourhood. The 13‑acre site sits along the Lake Ontario shoreline and includes several historic buildings, such as a barn from around 1870, a gatehouse built around 1905, and a manor house completed in 1920.
The main Adamson house and its landscaped gardens are a popular lakefront destination for visitors and residents. In 2025, the manor house opened to the public, offering exhibitions and programs created by the Museums of Mississauga.
The buildings at Adamson Estate date back to the 1800s. Learn more about how they were built, who lived in them, and what artifacts are on display today.
Adamson Estate was once part of a 300‑acre land grant given to Joseph Cawthra shortly after the Head of the Lake Purchase in 1806. Cawthra, a successful business owner, used the property as his summer residence. In the 1830s, he rented most of the land to William Duck, whose family farmed it for several generations.
In the 1870s, Joseph’s grandson, John Cawthra II, built a summer house and a ramp barn on the property. His wife, Elizabeth, named it Grove Farm after a stand of large white pines that marked the boundary between the original land grant and the Mississaugas of the Credit reserve at the Credit River.
In 1899, John’s daughter Mabel received the estate as a wedding gift when she married Agar Adamson. Between 1919 and 1920, they replaced the summer house with the manor house that stands today. Designed by the architecture firm Sproatt and Rolph, the house was built in the Colonial Revival style with Flemish details, reflecting the couple’s time spent in Flanders during the First World War. A glassed‑in orangery was added in 1929.
In the 1970s, the Credit Valley Conservation Authority purchased the land and leased it to the City of Mississauga. The property was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1978 and was leased to several private groups over the years, including the Royal Conservatory of Music. The main house opened to the public in 2025.
This unusual gatehouse is one of only three structures of its kind in Canada—and the only one built from wood. Raised above a laneway, it allowed carriages and later cars to pass underneath. The upper level served as a nursery and guest space, while the rooms on the ground level were used for a variety of purposes over the years, including a tool shed, garage, pottery studio, and changerooms for a swimming pool added in the 1950s.
Built around 1870 by John Cawthra II for Grove Farm, the barn is one of the oldest surviving agricultural buildings in the region. Constructed with cedar board‑and‑batten siding, it features a built earth ramp leading to the upper floor and a stone‑walled lower level where livestock were kept. The upper level housed hay storage and a granary. In the 1960s, the barn became a gathering place for music and theatre events.
The main house is the only building currently open to the public. The entrance is located on the south side of the building and can be accessed via ramp. The second floor has stair access only.
Admission is by donation to support exhibition and education experiences. Donations can be made on site using debit or credit card. Recommended donations are $5 to $10 per individual or $20 per family.
Please visit our website for information on applying for a film or photography permit.
