While this site has participated in Doors Open Ontario in the past, it may not be part of the current season’s program. Please check the Home page for this year’s events and participating sites. For Toronto and Ottawa, check their local websites to confirm.

Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Towerin-person Doors Open Waterloo Region

  • In-person
  • French services available
  • Kid-friendly
  • National Historic Site (Canada)
  • Parking
  • Partial wheelchair access
  • Photography allowed
Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Tower

Gain rare access to the observation deck of this iconic tower that commemorates the arrival of Pennsylvania-German settlers to Waterloo Region. Its random-coursed fieldstone construction, tapered Swiss copper roof, and Conestoga wagon weathervane reflect the origins and farming lifestyles of these settlers. It was built, in part, as a goodwill response to anti-German sentiment during the First World War.

Nestled along the banks of the Grand River in Kitchener, the Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Tower is an icon of Waterloo Region. It memorializes the arrival of the first Pennsylvania Dutch settlers to the area in the early 1800s. Its conception in 1923 was prompted by the rise of German-Canadian nationalism following a period of cultural sanctions imposed on the local community during the First World War. As part of Digital Doors Open, watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes experience of this iconic landmark. The tower, conceived by W.H. Breithaupt, is an 18.9-metre high structure (62 feet) that stands on the banks of the Grand River. It pays tribute to the contributions of the hardworking Pennsylvania-German pioneers who settled the Waterloo Region between 1800 and 1803. Its shimmering Swiss-style copper roof, random-coursed fieldstone construction and Conestoga wagon weathervane can be seen for miles, paying tribute to the German heritage of the farming community that built it.

Architecture

Year built: 1926; restored 1997-2002
Building type:AttractionCemeteryHistorical landmark
Architect: William Langton (Waterloo County Pioneer's Association)

Dates/hours open

Sep 16, 10:00am - Sep 16, 04:00pm

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.