29251 Uncle Tom's Road
Dresden, Ontario
N0P 1M0

Contact: Steven Cook
Telephone: 519-683-2978
Fax: 519-683-1256
Email: utchs@heritagetrust.on.ca

Note: As we implement programming and safeguards due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently unable to welcome school and group bookings to the site. Please contact us to inquire about digital opportunities.

A strong proponent of education and self-reliance, Henson relocated to Dresden, Ontario in 1841 and co-founded the British American Institute of Science and Technology with Oberlin, Ohio missionary Hiram Wilson. The settlement – known as Dawn – developed around the school. Its residents farmed, attended the Institute and worked at sawmills, gristmills and other local industries. Some returned to the United States after emancipation was proclaimed in 1865. Others remained, contributing to the establishment of a significant Black community in this part of Ontario.

Known as “Uncle Tom” through his connection to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Josiah Henson was one of the most famous Canadians of his day. Henson's celebrity raised international awareness of Canada as a haven for refugees from slavery.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site recognizes the accomplishments of Josiah Henson through interpretive videos, interactive exhibits, numerous artifacts and tours that reflect the Black experience in Canada. The two-hectare (five-acre) site consists of the Josiah Henson Interpretive Centre, with its Underground Railroad Freedom Gallery and North Star Theatre, plus three historical buildings – including the Josiah Henson house – two cemeteries, a sawmill and numerous artifacts that have been preserved as a legacy to these early pioneers.

Throughout the year, the site hosts many fascinating programs and activities. For example, each August Civic Holiday weekend, the site hosts Emancipation Day with various speakers, performers, exhibits and cuisine that reflect early Black life in Ontario. In addition, Black History Month programming takes place each February, as well as a Diversity Dialogue retreat for youth in the spring and an annual workshop for educators on how to incorporate Canadian Black history into their curriculums.

The property containing Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site is part of 81 hectares (200 acres) of land purchased in 1841 to establish the Dawn Settlement – a refuge for the many fugitives from slavery who escaped to Canada from the United States. The Josiah Henson Interpretive Centre, located on the site, houses a collection of 19th-century artifacts and rare books pertinent to the abolitionist era, as well as displays highlighting Reverend Josiah Henson's life.

At the Interpretive Centre, visitors are ushered into The North Star Theatre for an audio-visual presentation and introduction to the history of this historical site. The Underground Railroad Freedom Gallery recounts the history of freedom seekers – from being taken from Africa and enslaved in the United States to finding freedom in Canada. The Central Station Gift Shop offers a wide selection of unique African and Canadian art and souvenirs, as well as an extensive selection of books.