The City of Burlington is committed to preserving its history and cultural heritage for future generations to celebrate and learn from.
The History of Burlington
The history of Burlington is rich and exciting. The original inhabitants, First Nations people thrived among the many natural advantages of this area for centuries.
In 1669, French explorer Sieur de La Salle landed where LaSalle Park is now located. Beginning in the late 1700s, European settlers arrived along Burlington’s beautiful lakefront.
In 1784, Captain Joseph Brant was granted a large land area by King George III in recognition of his support for the British in the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence (1775-1783). Brant's 3,000 acres was the start of the village of Wellington Square.
United Empire Loyalists began to settle in Burlington after the Revolutionary War, followed by emigrants from the British Isles and Europe. Arriving homesteaders cleared lots on which to farm and live. From 1820 to 1850, lumber was the area’s principal export and later wheat was exported to Europe.
In 1873, the villages of Wellington Square and Port Nelson merged to become the Village of Burlington which then became the Town of Burlington in 1914.
By 1900, Burlington had evolved into a prosperous farming community with mixed farms and cash crops of fruit and vegetables and was known as the Garden of Canada. It was soon a thriving town with a busy main street and boatways, railways, the QEW highway and Skyway Bridge that serviced several manufacturing facilities.
Musical entertainment is woven into Burlington's fabric since the days of big band sound at the Brant Inn where top internationally known artists performed. The Burlington Teen Tour Band, Canada’s Musical Ambassadors was formed in 1947 and to this day, musical festivals like the Sound of Music are a mainstay.
Burlington became a city in 1974 and a welcome place to raise a family.
Burlington's heritage can be found:
- Along its old streets, at Brant Museum, the Ireland House and Freeman Station
- Along the waterfront and north, to the old villages of Nelson, Appleby, Zimmerman, Lowville and Kilbride
- In the memorials to Veterans of war located at Veteran Square and the Naval Ships Memorial Monument.
Burlington is an inclusive community that celebrates its history while embracing its present as a City where people, nature, and businesses thrive.
(Source: Burlington Historical Society, 2022.)
Heritage Burlington is an advisory Committee of Council reporting through the Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility Committee. For further information regarding Heritage Burlington, please see the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee page.
For information on properties, please see the Heritage Property Information page.
Burlington Heritage Tours
Enjoy one of the following Heritage Property Tours:
Burlington Public Library - Local History Services
Local history is the study of past events in a specific geographical location. Through BPL's local history collections and digital archives, Burlington residents can learn about our community's unique history and heritage.
Get started with your local history research
Doors Open Burlington
Doors Open showcases the buildings, natural spaces, infrastructure and cultural landscapes that shape and define our community.
Heritage conservation planning
Heritage conservation planning helps us identify, protect and promote our historic buildings, monuments and landscapes. View our policies around different types of heritage properties.