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Joseph Schneider Haus
The Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and Gallery is a dynamic community museum in downtown Kitchener. The heart of the complex is the fine Geo
rgian frame farmhouse built by one of the area's first pioneers, Joseph Schneider, a Pennsylvania-German Mennonite. A local landmark and Kitchener's oldest dwelling, the c. 1816 homestead was restored and furnished and opened as a living history museum in 1981.
Adjacent to the museum is a modern wing that houses administrative support areas, exhibit galleries, programming space, an artifact vault and a resource library. Among the museum's stored collections is the prestigious Canadian Harvest Collection of German-Canadian Folk Art which preserves significant artifacts from areas of Germanic settlement across Canada.
Programs and events
The museum offers a wide range of programs and professional services designed to educate and to entertain. You can also explore the online collection.
Visit the Event Calendar or view our Calendar of Events 2013 brochure.
Quilting Bee At Joseph Schneider Haus May 18 - 26
On Saturday, May 19 Mennonite quilters from St. Jacobs area will be busy stitching this year’s entries from the Quilt Block Contest.
Quilters needed to include a minimum of 50% of the fabric taken from their ‘Quilters Stash’ and include the colour orange.
An announcement of the winners from the contest will be made at 4 p.m.
Quilters from the Waterloo County Quilters Guild will participate in a quilting bee Wednesday , May 22 to Friday, May24 . Visitors are welcome to come and see them put in a few stitches!
Quilts in the Historic Haus will showcase quilt patterns that clearly illustrate the use of the recycled fabric from the bits and pieces from 19th century ‘rag bags’ in the vintage quilts that we display in the historic house for the month of May.
A sampling of quilts destined for the Mennonite Relief Quilt Auction are on display in our classroom/meeting room area. Staff will be busy quilting petticoats and bonnets.
Event Dates
Saturday, May 18 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 – 1 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 22 to Saturday, May 25 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 26 – 1 to 5 p.m.
In The Galleries
Heartwood: The Arts of Sarah Granskou & Trevor Ew
ert
This exhibit explores burl bowls and baroque bows, poetry and puppetry, textiles and music, and leads the viewer into the very heart of Trevor and Sarah’s artistry. (Continues to Nov. 10, 2013)
Open Wed. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun. 1 to 5 p.m.
Gifts of the North
This enchanting exhibit has made a stop at the Schneider Haus on its circle tour of Ontario from its home in Thunder Bay. Visitors will be intrigued by this fantasy world of soft sculptures created by guest artist and Schneider Haus alumna, Janet Hannam. Join us on Sun.
This travelling exhibit will be on display until June 16, 2013. 
Hours of operation
Historic House hours - Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
The offices and gift shop are open weekdays:
- Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Backyard Tourists 2013 – Made in Ontario
The province of Ontario is keeping up in an incredibly diverse and dynamic global economy. Nowadays, consumers are offered innumerable manufactured goods and innovative services from all corners of the globe. Join us this season to learn about some modern facilities that continue driving us forward. All tours include transportation, admissions and lunch. Please call the Museum at 519-742-7752 to reserve your space today!
Join us this year as our day-tripping series shines a light on how Ontario-made objects and ideas come to be realized and incorporated into our everyday lives.
Thursday, May 23 – In grand style and scale we launch our season. Details to follow!
Friday, June 21 – Count yourself among the ‘chosen people’ who will be attending Fiddler on the Roof with us this year, on our annual trip to the Stratford Festival. On the way there, see how modern media is being manufactured at the University of Waterloo’s new Stratford campus.
Thursday, July 11 – Always driving onward! Gain some historical perspective at the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa before touring behind the ultra-modern assembly lines of the Cambridge Toyota plant.
To receive a copy of our Backyard Tourists Brochure please call the Joseph Schneider Haus at 519-742-7752.
Education Programmes
The next PA Day is Friday, May 31: “Spring Has Sprung"
Join us for some gardening fun at Joseph Schneider Haus as we prepare for the upcoming growing season. Learn a new thing or two about what the Schneider's would have been growing, and how they were doing it.
Drop in anytime from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The staff of Joseph Schneider Haus have been delivering educational excellence for 30 years. Our distinctive curriculum-based program and innovated short-term educational experiences have enthused and enlightened students and teachers alike since the Museum opened in 1981.
Check out this year's program opportunities 2013 Education Program brochure.
Folk Artist-In-Residence 2013
The Friends of Joseph Schneider Haus sponsor the annual Folk Artist-in-Residence Program, designed to support the efforts of local artists and artisans working in traditional crafts and trades. The Friends are pleased to introduce F.A.I.R 2013 Trevor Ewert and Sarah Granskou, Wood Workers/Storytellers. Trevor will be demonstrating violin bow-making March 2, 2013. Stories & Songs with Sarah starts March 14, 2013 in the historic haus. Check out the brochure for more information.
In the Galleries
Student Interpreter Activity
Students visiting the haus with their class will receive a Student Interpreter Pass with a link to our Student Interpreter Activity.
Show your pass for free admission for you and an adult. Take part in the Student Interpreter Activity to test your skills and have some fun!
Contact us
Joseph Schneider Haus
Kitchener, ON N2G 1W7
Phone: 519-742-7752
Fax: 519-742-0089
Hours of operation
- Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission
- Adults $2.25
- Seniors/Students $1.50
- Children $1.25
- Family $5
Free parking is located across the street and the museum is accessible by transit routes 2, 8, 24 and 25. The main floor of the historic house and exhibit galleries is wheelchair accessible. A written guide is available for those unable to access the second floor.
