Celebrate The Heritage Americans And Canadians Share In Our Greater Niagara Region During !0th ‘Doors Open

By Doug Draper

If you dig history, heritage and fabulous architecture, then Doors Open Niagara is back – celebrating its 10^thyear on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border in this region, and you can once again soak in all the riches it has to offer for free. 

Two-century old Benjamin Long Homestead, at western head of Erie Canal system in Tonawanda, New York, is on Doors Open tour list

This event – scheduled to take place this spring between Friday, June 15 and Sunday, June 17 – offers residents who live and visit this region an opportunity to view some of the finest historical homes, institutions and historical site in Niagara for none of the charges that usually apply to these sites. It is a chance to remind ourselves, or possibly discover for the first time, how rich a history and heritage we have right here.

Doors Open Niagara, along with a ‘Heritage Peace Garden Trail’ launching in recognition of the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812 that divided a fledgling United States and an evolving Canadian nation, before bringing us together in peace, is being sponsored by the Canada\/U.S. Binational Tourism Alliance, a not-for-profit organization representing businesses and tourist venues on both sides of the border.

Here is the Binational Tourism Alliance’s recent media release on these events. Enjoy them.

Binational Doors Open Niagara & Heritage Peace Garden Trail For U.S. and Canadian Media/Publications                                  

Written by Arlene White, Executive Director, Binational Alliance

General 2012 Doors Open & Peace Garden Trail Information

2012 is a very special year in our cross-border region.  We are kicking off the War of 1812 Bicentennial – an event that played a major role in defining Canada, the United States and the 200 years of peace we have shared since that war ended.

The Battle Ground Hotel Museum on Lundy Lane in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and across from the Drummond Hill Cemetary where War of 1812 heroine Laura Secord is buried, is on the Doors Open tour list.

The Binational Alliance invites you to join us this June to celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of Doors Open Niagara and launch of the Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail – an 1812 Bicentennial

Legacy Project permanently connecting the built heritage, architecture & garden landscapes of  the Southern Great Lakes.   

You’ll enjoy ten amazing days of special events, tours, exhibits and performances, culminating in the free Doors Open Niagara weekend  between Friday, June 15 and Sunday,  June 17. 

June 8, we’ll be kicking off Architecture Week in the binational Niagara Region, with a special focus on the architecture of the 19^th century.   Jackson Triggs  Stratus and Southbrook Wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be offering architectural tours of their sites and Jackson Triggs is the location of our special Doors Open Niagara 10^th Anniversary celebration on Saturday evening,

June 9.  We’ll be highlighting the architecture of binational Niagara through video, photographic and architectural exhibits and opening the doors to the next decade of Doors Open Niagara through dance and music in a new cross-border collaboration of Canadian and American dancers from Toronto’s Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Buffalo’s Configuration Dance Theatre, and the works of artists Amy Taravella, Lacey Smith and Veronica Lake.   Tickets go on Tuesday, May 22 – go to doorsopenniagara.com. 

Visit Buffalo, New York’s classic Bontanical Gardens during Doors Open Niagara

Between June 9 and 14, the 35 heritage sites and Peace Gardens involved in 2012 Doors Open will be offering a variety of special exhibits, lectures, tours and programs and from Friday June 15 to Sunday June 17, they will offer free entry to all visitors to these sites during the Doors Open weekend.                                                                                                                     

The 2012 Art of Architecture and Architage photography contests are open to all visitors and participants in Doors Open and there will be a variety of prizes and opportunities for the winning photographers to exhibit their works in galleries and museums on both sides of the border.

And a special downloadable passport  will entitle participants to enter into a grand prize

 getaway in Niagara later this summer.  For complete details about the Doors Open 10^th

Anniversary celebrations and to purchase tickets to the June 9 event at Jackson Triggs, go to doorsopenniagara.com.

Niagara Doors Open & Peace Garden Sites – Open Free June 15 to 17 

U.S. Sites:

1. The Benjamin Long Homestead
2. Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and Peace Garden
3. Colonel William Bond-Jesse Hawley House
4. Connecticut Street Armory NY National Guard
5. Das Haus Heritage Museum
6. Erie Canal Discovery Center and Penny Gallery
7. Hull Family Home & Farmstead and Peace Garden
8. Lehigh Valley Historic Site
9. Lewiston Peace Garden
   1. Market Arcade
   2. McClew Interpretive Center at Murphy Orchards
   3. Niagara County Historical Society Campus: Out water Building (1863), Washington Hunt Law Office (1835), Kandt House (1880) and Pioneer Building (1899)
   4. North Tonawanda History Museum’s The Lumber City History Center
   5. St Anthony of Padua Church
      1. Saint Adalbert Basilica
      2. The Mansion on Delaware
      3. Town of Porter Historical Museum –Youngstown Red Brick School
      4. Youngstown  Peace Garden

 Canadian Sites:

1. Fort Erie Historical Museum
2. Niagara Historical Society & Museum
3. Willoughby Historical Museum
4. St. George’s Anglican Church
5. St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canal Centre
6. Jordan Historical Museum
7. The Fry House
8. 3800 Main St, Jordan
9. Niagara Apothecary Museum
10. Morningstar Mill
11. Holy Trinity Anglican Church
12. RiverBrink Art Museum
13. Grimsby Bicentennial Peace Garden
    1. Grimsby Museum
    2. Battleground Hotel Museum
    3. Niagara Bruce Trail Association
    4. Willoughby Community Centre

 June 9 Doors Open Niagara 10^th Anniversary Celebration at Jackson Triggs NOTL

 The Binational Alliance invites you to join us to celebrate ten years of Doors Open Niagara and two hundred years of Peace between Canada and the United States on Saturday, June 9 at Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

You’ll enjoy a magical evening of local wine and food, architectural exhibits from the University at Buffalo Architecture & Education program, photography exhibits from the first decade of Doors Open Art of Architecture and Architage contests,  the Unbuilt Niagara video retrospective – the best designs never built, and a special binational dance showcase featuring dancers from Toronto’s Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Buffalo’s Configuration Dance Theatre and artists Amy Taravella, Lacey Smith and Veronica Lake.  We’ll be premiering two new Peace Dances choreographed by Gerry Trentham of Pounds per Square Inch and danced to a new musical composition by Julia Aplin and her band Heartsong.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and guests can take advantage of the wonderful culinary options provided by Jackson Triggs – enjoy an exquisite barrel cellar dinner with wine-paired courses or relax on the patio with the barbeque selections provided by the on-site chefs under the direction of David Penny and recommended Jackson Triggs wine for tastings or by the glass.

Ticket prices start at $55 for the winery exhibits and amphitheatre dance performance and wine and food samples, with VIP tickets available for those who would like to take in the barrel cellar dinner and end the evening in the executive lounge with a private gathering to meet the artists and take away a special memento of the evening at the winery.  For complete details and to purchase your tickets go to doorsopenniagara.com.                                                                                                                      

Other Binational Heritage Peace Gardens Launching in 2012

1. May 27 – Victor, NY
2. June 1 – Burt, NY
3. June 15 – Leamington, ON, Niagara University, NY
4. June 16 – Sacket’s Harbor, NY
5. June 21 – Tecumseh, ON
6. June 22 – Thamesville, ON
7. June 29 – Youngstown, NY
8. July 1 – Fort Erie, ON
9. July 4 – St. Marys, GA
10. July 19 – Windsor, ON
11. July 20 – Colchester, ON
12. July 22 – Lancaster, NY
13. Aug 9 – Reif Winery, NOTL, ON
14. Aug 26 – Black Rock, Buffalo, NY
15. Sept 1 – Winery, Colchester, ON
16. Sept 8 – Olde Sandwich Towne, Windsor, ON
17. Oct 13 – Amherstburg, ON