New free multi-sensory interactive exhibit now open in Toronto

A new exhibit with multi-sensory and interactive elements is now open in Toronto, and it allows you to immerse yourself in the rich history of the city.

The T.O. You Don’t Know exhibit is now putting more than 150 stories, 50 objects, and archival materials to explore over 200 years of the history of Toronto.

Highlights include of the exhibit include nostalgic and quirky blasts back to Toronto’s past such as: 2001’s Vazaleen, a monthly queer rock & roll party; Diego Maradona’s final soccer game in a Scarborough stadium in 1996; the No-Fun Sunday Toboganning Ban, lasting from the 1910s to 1961; and the 21,000 “Bomb Girls” who were Canadian women who manufactured explosives at the General Engineering Company of Canada in the 1940s.

The exhibit functions as a physical installation at a Toronto gallery as well as a city-wide street campaign that will be launching later on in the summer. Each of them invites audiences to scan QR codes and access maps, as well as videos that delve into the stories in the exhibition.

The T.O. You Don’t Know was inspired by Museum of Toronto’s 2025 city-wide campaign of the same name, conceptually by Bowers, Berners and Lee but also stands as a new, independent exhibition featuring both newly uncovered material and returning stories.

There are also opportunities throughout the exhibition’s run to join curator-led tours, guided experiences that offer additional context and BTS insight. Tours will take place on Saturday, July 18 at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 8 at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Admission is free, you just have to make sure to register for the tours through the Museum of Toronto website.

“Toronto is a city of remarkable depth, shaped by stories, communities, and events that are not always visible in our experience of the city today,” said Heidi Reitmaier, CEO, Museum of Toronto.

“The T.O. You Don’t Know brings long-forgotten and overlooked pieces of the city’s history back into public view, inviting people to rediscover Toronto with greater curiosity, context, and connection. As Museum of Toronto continues to expand our impact and reach, this exhibition reflects our commitment to building a city museum that helps people understand where Toronto has been, and how its past continues to shape who we are now.”

The T.O. You Don’t Know exhibit is open now until Dec. 30, 2026, so if you’re craving a hit of nostalgia, you have time to get over there.

The physical exhibit is being displayed right now at the 401 Richmond Gallery in Toronto.