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Benares Historic House

1507 Clarkson Rd N.
905-615-4860
Open today from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Hours

Saturday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Admission by Donation
Recommended: $5 to $10 per individual or $20 per family

 

About

Benares Historic House is a Georgian-style estate with more than 165 years of history. It features an interpretive gallery, rotating exhibitions and displays, and original family possessions spanning four generations.

A variety of themed tours are available, including:

Cedar Park & Cherry Hill: Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History

The Museums of Mississauga invite visitors to learn about the stories of some Early Black Settlers in Mississauga. This tour explores the lives and experiences of Black families in the Peel region in the 19th Century and encourages visitors to examine the gaps in our historical record and sharing of local history. Walk through the WWI era Benares Historic House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities engaging visitors of all ages in the lives and stories of Early Black Settlers in Mississauga.

Family Stories of Benares

The Museums of Mississauga invite visitors to learn about the stories of the Harris family of Benares and their servants and friends. Walk through the WWI era Benares Historic House in a fully guided tour sharing the family memories connected to the house and many photographs and family heirlooms it holds and learn about what life was like in the early 1900’s Mississauga. This interactive tour engages visitors of all ages.

Tours run on the hour between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.

Book a guided tour View events

 

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History

Benares Historic House was built in 1857, although parts of the home and several outbuildings date back to 1837. The house was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1977.

Benares was home to four generations of the Harris and Sayers families. Today, more than 95% of the artifacts on display are original to the Harris family and the home. These include furniture, dishes, letters and pictures.

The house and most of its contents were donated by the great-grandchildren of Captain Harris (Geoffrey Harris Sayers, Dora Sayers Caro and Barbara Sayers Larson). It was restored to reflect daily life in the World War One era and opened to the public as a museum in 1995.

Why Benares

Varanasi, also known as Benares or Banaras, is a city in northern India on the banks of the Ganges River. It’s the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism and also played an important role in the development of Buddhism.

The original owner and builder of Benares Historic House in 1835 was Edgar Neave. He named the property “Benares”. At the time, naming a property after a travel destination was common practice.

Plan your visit

As historic sites, some of our spaces do have physical barriers. The top floor and the basement of Benares Historic House have stair access only.

Admission is by donation to support exhibition and education experiences. Donations can be made on site using debit or credit. Recommended donations are $5 to $10 per individual or $20 per family.

Facility room and capacity*

  • Visitor’s Centre
    15-30

*Capacity depends on room setup

Room Finder

Online Facility Request Form