After a two-year hiatus, Doors Open Toronto returned this past weekend in all of its discovery-filled glory.
For the annual free citywide event, over 100 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural, and social significance to the city open their doors to the public.
From modern museums to history-rich meeting spots, here were some social media highlights from this year.
Aga Khan Museum
The stunning Aga Khan Museum is a museum of Islamic art, Iranian art, and Muslim culture located at 77 Wynford Drive in North York. The building’s impressive architecture is just as much a draw as the artifacts housed within its walls.
City of Toronto Archives
The history buffs likely flocked to the City of Toronto Archives, the municipal archives for Toronto. It holds records created by the municipal government and its amalgamated former municipalities from 1792 to the present day, along with non-government records created by private groups and individuals.
St. Lawrence Hall
Named after Canada’s patron saint, the storied St. Lawrence Hall is located at King Street East and Jarvis Street, and opened its doors in 1850 to become the city’s first large public meeting hall. Its main feature was a 1000-seat amphitheatre.
Ontario Legislative Building
The sweeping Ontario Legislative Building -- home to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the viceregal suite of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and offices for members of the provincial parliament -- first opened its doors in 1893.
RC Harris Water Treatment Plant
Constructed in the 1930s, the RC Harris Water Treatment Plant’s cluster of art deco buildings make it look more like a museum than a water treatment plant. The plant was constructed in the 1930s, and is the largest of the Toronto’s four water treatment plants, providing 400M litres of safe drinking water to residents of Toronto and York Region each day.
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
Housed in the University of Toronto, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library offers the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in Canada.
Lower Bay Station
Unbeknownst to many TTC riders, there is a “secret” station rarely seen by the subway-riding public. Lower Bay Station operated briefly in the 1960s before stopping operations. In the decades since, it’s been used for many movie shoots, training, and storage.
Graffiti Alley
The much-photographed (and shared on social media) Graffiti Alley runs parallel to Queen Street West and features a large and vibrant collection of graffiti and street art.
401 Richmond Street West
401 Richmond Street West is a restored, heritage-designated, industrial building turned arts and culture hub. The space is home to over 140 artists, cultural producers, social innovators, galleries, festivals, and shops.
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre
Landmark Toronto buildings, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres are the last surviving Edwardian stacked theatres in the world.
