Visiting Bell Homestead
Bell Homestead National Historic Site
We invite you to visit the Brantford home where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone on July 26, 1874. Here you will see how the Bell family lived and worked. You will learn about how Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and see how the telephone has changed since then. Learn more Bell Homestead history. We have accessible and bus parking and indoor washroom facilities.
We'd like to thank our generous supporters Bell Canada, Ministry of Culture Tourism and Sport and the County of Brant.
What we offer
We have a wide variety of options to enjoy when you visit us! Learn more below.
- Adult Group Talks
- Birthday parties
- Café and museum store
- Day camps
- Educational trips for schools and Scouts and Guides
- Family drop-in activities
- Memberships
- Parkland with carriage house, picnic grounds and perennial flower beds
- Rentals
- Showcase with Canada's first telephone business office with telephones from 1877 to the 1990's
- Special Events
- Tour the Bell family's 1870-1881 home with original furniture and models of Alexander Graham Bell's telephones
Tours and admission
Bell Homestead is now open. Six one-hour tours will be conducted Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please note the site is closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. All tours must be pre-booked in advance with limited tours available. Call us today to reserve your spot.
Ages | Cost |
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Adults | $8.00 |
Seniors (65 years and over) | $7.00 |
Students (13 years and over) | $7.00 |
Children (7 to 12) | $5.00 |
Children (6 and under) | Free |
Pre-booked adult groups of 15 or more (2 weeks advanced booking required) | $6.00 |
What to expect during COVID-19
In an effort to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors the following new protocols are in effect.
- All tours must be pre-booked
- Face coverings are mandatory indoors and can be taken off while eating
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols are in place
- We allow a maximum of five people per tour
Museum hours
The Homestead is open after Tuesday, September 8 for pre-booked tours only. The Exchange Café reopens for baked goods, coffee and tea with new protocols in effect. The museum is closed daily from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hours are subject to change without notice. Please call us or email us before your visit to check on specific dates and times.
Exchange café
The Café is serving baked goods, coffee and tea Tuesday to Saturdays beginning Tuesday, October 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. New protocols will be in effect. The Café closes for the season on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
The Exchange Cafe is fully licensed and serves beer and wine. Lunches are no longer served.
Home baking |
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Ice cream sundaes |
Enjoy vanilla or chocolate Hewitt's Dairy ice-cream $4.55 |
Beverages |
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Libations |
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The phone booth museum store
Located in our visitor centre, our museum store sells Homestead souvenirs, telephones, books, posters and vintage items.
Closures
We are closed during the following holidays. Please watch for added dates due to special bookings throughout the year.
- Mondays
- Tuesday after Family Day
- Easter weekend
- Canada Day
- Thanksgiving weekend
- Remembrance Day; and
- The week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day