Historic photos from around High Park, Toronto

High Park is the largest park in Toronto, at 1.61 square kms (398 acres). It is a wonderful combination of natural forest, ravines, and an open oak savannah habitat, Grenadier Pond, ornamental gardens, playing fields & childrens playgrounds. There is even a zoo along Deer Pen Road with American bison, Emu, llamas, peacocks, Fallow deer, wallaby, capybara, Highland cattle, yaks, Barbary sheep, and Mouflon sheep. The initial property for the park was given to the City of Toronto in 1873 by John George Howard and his wife, who are burried under a monument across from their Colborne Lodge. Additional land for the park came from Percival Ridout and the Chapman estate.

Additional neighbourhoods nearby:



List of all areas in Toronto or take a look at the historic photos by date. A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.

1875 Historic photo from Thursday, November 18, 1875 - St. Pauls Cathedral iron gate at Colborne Lodge - Illustrated guide to Toronto by way of Niagara Falls in High ParkSt. Pauls Cathedral iron gate at Colborne Lodge - Illustrated guide to Toronto by way of Niagara Falls
148 years ago - Thursday, November 18, 1875 - High Park
Max temp: 4.4°C - Min temp: -4.4°C - 0.3cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
1890 Historic photo from 1890 - Railway crossing at the south end of the park in High ParkRailway crossing at the south end of the park
133 years ago - 1890 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1890 Historic photo from 1890 - Howard Cottage, High Park, Toronto in High ParkHoward Cottage, High Park, Toronto
133 years ago - 1890 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1890 Historic photo from 1890 - Bell's Hotel, s.w. cor. Bloor & Dundas Sts. W., showing Brown's Tally-ho (fast horse-drawn coach) in High ParkBell's Hotel, s.w. cor. Bloor & Dundas Sts. W., showing Brown's Tally-ho (fast horse-drawn coach)
(Categorized under: Hotels )
133 years ago - 1890 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1900 Historic photo from 1900 - Colborne Lodge in High Park - art gallery in High ParkColborne Lodge in High Park - art gallery
123 years ago - 1900 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1900 Historic photo from 1900 - Colborne Lodge art gallery in High Park; interior showing paintings up to the ceiling in High ParkColborne Lodge art gallery in High Park; interior showing paintings up to the ceiling
123 years ago - 1900 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1907 Historic photo from 1907 - Women getting ready to skate on Grenadier Pond with shoes and coats in the trees in High ParkWomen getting ready to skate on Grenadier Pond with shoes and coats in the trees
116 years ago - 1907 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1907 Historic photo from 1907 - Sunnyside Villa (now the site of St. Josephs Health Centre) in High ParkSunnyside Villa (now the site of St. Josephs Health Centre)
116 years ago - 1907 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1908 Historic photo from 1908 - Buffalo in High Park zoo along Deer Pen road in High ParkBuffalo in High Park zoo along Deer Pen road
115 years ago - 1908 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1909 Historic photo from 1909 - Men and horses cutting ice on Grenadier Pond in High ParkMen and horses cutting ice on Grenadier Pond
114 years ago - 1909 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1910 Historic photo from 1910 - Toboggan runs built in the park in High ParkToboggan runs built in the park
113 years ago - 1910 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from 1912 - Colborne Lodge, High Park, southeast elevation in High ParkColborne Lodge, High Park, southeast elevation
111 years ago - 1912 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Thursday, November 28, 1912 - Keele Street and Indian Road looking north in High ParkKeele Street and Indian Road looking north
111 years ago - Thursday, November 28, 1912 - High Park
Max temp: 2.2°C - Min temp: -5.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1913 Historic photo from 1913 - Crowds around the High Park mineral baths just north of Bloor St in High ParkCrowds around the High Park mineral baths just north of Bloor St
110 years ago - 1913 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, February 14, 1914 - Women snow shoeing, High Park in High ParkWomen snow shoeing, High Park
109 years ago - Saturday, February 14, 1914 - High Park
Max temp: -10.0°C - Min temp: -15.0°C - 1.0cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, February 14, 1914 - Ski jump, High Park in High ParkSki jump, High Park
109 years ago - Saturday, February 14, 1914 - High Park
Max temp: -10.0°C - Min temp: -15.0°C - 1.0cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Saturday, May 8, 1915 - High Park - Tulip Beds in High ParkHigh Park - Tulip Beds
108 years ago - Saturday, May 8, 1915 - High Park
Max temp: 20.0°C - Min temp: 6.7°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Saturday, May 8, 1915 - High Park tulip beds with buildings in the background in High ParkHigh Park tulip beds with buildings in the background
108 years ago - Saturday, May 8, 1915 - High Park
Max temp: 20.0°C - Min temp: 6.7°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1919 Historic photo from 1919 - Traffic in the High Park zoo - high class cars and tin lizzies in High ParkTraffic in the High Park zoo - high class cars and tin lizzies
104 years ago - 1919 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1919 Historic photo from Thursday, July 17, 1919 - Roncesvalles Avenue south at Grafton Avenue in High ParkRoncesvalles Avenue south at Grafton Avenue
104 years ago - Thursday, July 17, 1919 - High Park
Max temp: 31.1°C - Min temp: 12.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1921 Historic photo from Saturday, April 2, 1921 - High Park fence from St. Pauls Cathedral, London, England in High ParkHigh Park fence from St. Pauls Cathedral, London, England
(Categorized under: Ornamental gate )
102 years ago - Saturday, April 2, 1921 - High Park
Max temp: 17.8°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1921 Historic photo from Saturday, April 2, 1921 - Howard monument, High Park in High ParkHoward monument, High Park
(Categorized under: Ornamental gate )
102 years ago - Saturday, April 2, 1921 - High Park
Max temp: 17.8°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1923 Historic photo from Friday, March 9, 1923 - Looking north on Keele at Humberside, with Baird Park on the right in High ParkLooking north on Keele at Humberside, with Baird Park on the right
100 years ago - Friday, March 9, 1923 - High Park
Max temp: -1.1°C - Min temp: -13.9°C - 1.0cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1923 Historic photo from Sunday, December 23, 1923 - Night scene - Howard Memorial Gate in High ParkNight scene - Howard Memorial Gate
100 years ago - Sunday, December 23, 1923 - High Park
Max temp: 4.4°C - Min temp: -1.7°C - 7.4cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1925 Historic photo from Friday, December 25, 1925 - Christmas day horses at the Howard Memorial Gates in High ParkChristmas day horses at the Howard Memorial Gates
98 years ago - Friday, December 25, 1925 - High Park
Max temp: -2.8°C - Min temp: -11.1°C - 5.1cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1929 Historic photo from Tuesday, September 24, 1929 - High Park duck and goose pond in High ParkHigh Park duck and goose pond
94 years ago - Tuesday, September 24, 1929 - High Park
Max temp: 23.3°C - Min temp: 8.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1931 Historic photo from Thursday, August 6, 1931 - Howard Memorial Gates in High ParkHoward Memorial Gates
92 years ago - Thursday, August 6, 1931 - High Park
Max temp: 33.3°C - Min temp: 18.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1931 Historic photo from Thursday, August 6, 1931 - Howard Memorial Gates, High Park Boulevard in High ParkHoward Memorial Gates, High Park Boulevard
92 years ago - Thursday, August 6, 1931 - High Park
Max temp: 33.3°C - Min temp: 18.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1936 Historic photo from Friday, May 1, 1936 - Stone gate, wooden fence, and house behind on Constance and Parkside in High ParkStone gate, wooden fence, and house behind on Constance and Parkside
(Categorized under: Ornamental gate )
87 years ago - Friday, May 1, 1936 - High Park
Max temp: 18.9°C - Min temp: 9.4°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1952 Historic photo from 1952 - High Park pavilion with two-story-tall towers - destroyed by fire in February 1958 in High ParkHigh Park pavilion with two-story-tall towers - destroyed by fire in February 1958
71 years ago - 1952 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1959 Historic photo from 1959 - Gathering near the Maple Leaf circle - High Park, Toronto in High ParkGathering near the Maple Leaf circle - High Park, Toronto
64 years ago - 1959 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1967 Historic photo from 1967 - 16 photos of sculptor Wessel Couzijn installing Midsummer Nights Dream in High Park16 photos of sculptor Wessel Couzijn installing Midsummer Nights Dream
56 years ago - 1967 - High Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)