Visit Niagara Parks' Oldest Property Grounds McFarland House.

For more than two centuries McFarland House has stood as a monument to the impeccable manners, good taste and gracious living that epitomizes Niagara-on-the-Lake. Visit us and experience a taste of Georgian style and pace. Qualified costumed interpreters provide guided tours of this historic home throughout the day.

Located in a picturesque park setting with playground facilities and a baseball diamond, the House is adjacent to the Niagara River Recreation Trail. McFarland Park also offers a covered picnic pavilion that seats approximately 250 people, with water and washroom facilities nearby.

McFarland House Facts & Figures:

Built in 1800 by John McFarland and his sons, on land granted to him by King George III, this is one of the few buildings in Niagara-on-the-Lake which pre-dates the War of 1812.

Used as a hospital and headquarters for both the British and American armies during the War of 1812.

It was also the location of a cannon battery created to protect the Niagara River Built on a ravine that was used as the launch point for the British attack on Fort Niagara in 1813.

The home is of particular historical significance as it survived the burning of Newark, a tragedy that took place when the American forces occupying Fort George retreated from the area in December 1813. This makes McFarland House one of the oldest structures in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as the oldest building owned by The Niagara Parks Commission. The garden at McFarland House is illustrative of a typical mid-19th-century dooryard garden. Gardens located in the dooryard (typically defined as the area between the house and the nearby kitchen or barn) were usually used for both culinary and decorative purposes. McFarland House thanks to the Garden Club of Niagara for their planning and upkeep of the garden. Restored by The Niagara Parks Commission in 1959, McFarland House is furnished in the Empire style and portrays life in Niagara between 1800 and 1830.

Guided tours of the home are available from mid-May until Labour Day.