Historic photos from around Don Mills, Toronto

Running west of the Don River from York Mills south to about Eglinton, and as far west as Leslie, Don Mills was designed to be a mixed use community centred around Eglinton and Don Mills Road. Separated from the rest of Toronto by ravines, it was largely a rural farming area until as late as the 1950's, when E. P. Taylor decided to develop the area as a 'Garden city'.

List of all areas in Toronto or take a look at the historic photos by date. New! You can now access the photos by street address A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.

 
 

1905 Historic photo from 1905 - Moatfield at its original location north side of York Mills west of Don Mills Road in Don MillsMoatfield at its original location north side of York Mills west of Don Mills Road
(Categorized under: Estates and Houses )
119 years ago - 1905 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1905 Historic photo from 1905 - Moatfield - David Duncan house - classic Ontario Gothic farmhouse in Don MillsMoatfield - David Duncan house - classic Ontario Gothic farmhouse
(Categorized under: Estates and Houses )
119 years ago - 1905 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1908 Historic photo from 1908 - CNR tracks crossing the east Don River at Donlands Avenue in Don MillsCNR tracks crossing the east Don River at Donlands Avenue
116 years ago - 1908 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1919 Historic photo from 1919 - Ducks in the stream at Donalda Farms in Don Mills in Don MillsDucks in the stream at Donalda Farms in Don Mills
105 years ago - 1919 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - Fountain, stonework, and formal gardens at Graydon Hall Manor in Don MillsFountain, stonework, and formal gardens at Graydon Hall Manor
74 years ago - 1950 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - \"Spiff\" Evans pointing to framed Civitan Creed in Don Mills\"Spiff\" Evans pointing to framed Civitan Creed
74 years ago - 1950 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1955 Historic photo from 1955 - Stockbroker H. Rupert Bain, of Bain, Newling and Co., on grounds of his estate, Graydon House, Don Mills Road in Don MillsStockbroker H. Rupert Bain, of Bain, Newling and Co., on grounds of his estate, Graydon House, Don Mills Road
69 years ago - 1955 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1955 Historic photo from 1955 - Looking down the formal gardens from the fountain at Graydon Hall Manor in Don MillsLooking down the formal gardens from the fountain at Graydon Hall Manor
69 years ago - 1955 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1957 Historic photo from Sunday, September 1, 1957 - House and service station on the northeast corner of Leslie Street and York Mills Road in Don MillsHouse and service station on the northeast corner of Leslie Street and York Mills Road
67 years ago - Sunday, September 1, 1957 - Don Mills at 800 York Mills Road n.e. corner at Leslie Street
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1958 Historic photo from 1958 - York Mills Collegiate in 1958 in Don MillsYork Mills Collegiate in 1958
66 years ago - 1958 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1959 Historic photo from Thursday, November 5, 1959 - 1759 Victoria Park Avenue widening : removal of trees in Don Mills1759 Victoria Park Avenue widening : removal of trees
65 years ago - Thursday, November 5, 1959 - Don Mills at 1759 Victoria Park Ave
Max temp: 19.4°C - Min temp: 8.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1963 Historic photo from 1963 - Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre - designed and built in 1963 by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama in Don MillsJapanese Canadian Cultural Centre - designed and built in 1963 by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama
61 years ago - 1963 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1963 Historic photo from 1963 - Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre - west side with distinctive chains in Don MillsJapanese Canadian Cultural Centre - west side with distinctive chains
61 years ago - 1963 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1964 Historic photo from 1964 - Traffic survey in 1964 at Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street in Don MillsTraffic survey in 1964 at Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street
60 years ago - 1964 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1964 Historic photo from 1964 - Looking east on Lawrence Avenue East from the west side of Don Mills Road in Don MillsLooking east on Lawrence Avenue East from the west side of Don Mills Road
60 years ago - 1964 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1965 Historic photo from 1965 - Bata Shoe Headquarters - white pavillion-esque, low-rise concrete and glass office structure by John C. Parkin in Don MillsBata Shoe Headquarters - white pavillion-esque, low-rise concrete and glass office structure by John C. Parkin
59 years ago - 1965 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1965 Historic photo from 1965 - Bata Headquarters - built 1965, demolished 2005 to make way for the Aga Khan Foundation Ismaili centre in Don MillsBata Headquarters - built 1965, demolished 2005 to make way for the Aga Khan Foundation Ismaili centre
59 years ago - 1965 - Don Mills at 59 Wynford Drive
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1965 Historic photo from Tuesday, April 27, 1965 - Ontario Science Centre - sketch of the buildings on the side of the Don River ravine in Don MillsOntario Science Centre - sketch of the buildings on the side of the Don River ravine
(Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- Ontario Science Centre )
59 years ago - Tuesday, April 27, 1965 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road east side, south of Eglinton Ave West
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1965 Historic photo from Tuesday, April 27, 1965 - Ontario Science Centre - Models and Sketches - aerial view into the Don Valley in Don MillsOntario Science Centre - Models and Sketches - aerial view into the Don Valley
(Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- Ontario Science Centre )
59 years ago - Tuesday, April 27, 1965 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1967 Historic photo from 1967 - Mississippi Belle nightclub in Don MillsMississippi Belle nightclub
57 years ago - 1967 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1967 Historic photo from Tuesday, January 24, 1967 - Main entrance of the Ontario Science Centre at Don Mills Road under construction in Don MillsMain entrance of the Ontario Science Centre at Don Mills Road under construction
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
57 years ago - Tuesday, January 24, 1967 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1968 Historic photo from Tuesday, January 30, 1968 - South east corner of the Science Centre under construction - called Ontario Centennial Centre of Science and Technology at the time in Don MillsSouth east corner of the Science Centre under construction - called Ontario Centennial Centre of Science and Technology at the time
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
56 years ago - Tuesday, January 30, 1968 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1969 Historic photo from Monday, February 10, 1969 - Ontario Science Centre - Interior - long ramps by the windows in Don MillsOntario Science Centre - Interior - long ramps by the windows
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
55 years ago - Monday, February 10, 1969 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1969 Historic photo from Saturday, September 27, 1969 - Crowds at the opening of the Ontario Science Centre in 1969 - Its a hit in Don MillsCrowds at the opening of the Ontario Science Centre in 1969 - Its a hit
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
55 years ago - Saturday, September 27, 1969 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1974 Historic photo from Friday, January 4, 1974 - R. Buckminster Fuller - innovative architect-engineer-writer, in front of a model of his geodesic dome at the Ontario Science Centre in Don MillsR. Buckminster Fuller - innovative architect-engineer-writer, in front of a model of his geodesic dome at the Ontario Science Centre
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
50 years ago - Friday, January 4, 1974 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1978 Historic photo from Sunday, February 5, 1978 - Ontario Science Centre - soviet spaceship - CCCP on the side in Don MillsOntario Science Centre - soviet spaceship - CCCP on the side
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
46 years ago - Sunday, February 5, 1978 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1986 Historic photo from Wednesday, February 12, 1986 - The 19 carts in this Ontario Science Centre display represent the amount of food the average Canadian eats in a year. in Don MillsThe 19 carts in this Ontario Science Centre display represent the amount of food the average Canadian eats in a year.
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
38 years ago - Wednesday, February 12, 1986 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1992 Historic photo from Tuesday, January 28, 1992 - Kids enjoy the simulated space station at the Ontario Science Centre in Don MillsKids enjoy the simulated space station at the Ontario Science Centre
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
32 years ago - Tuesday, January 28, 1992 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1997 Historic photo from Thursday, January 2, 1997 - Van de Graaff generator for a static electricity hair raising demonstration at the Ontario Science Centre in Don MillsVan de Graaff generator for a static electricity hair raising demonstration at the Ontario Science Centre
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
27 years ago - Thursday, January 2, 1997 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road south of Eglinton Ave East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
2004 Historic photo from Wednesday, September 1, 2004 - Inn on the Park, Eglinton Avenue East and Leslie Street in Don MillsInn on the Park, Eglinton Avenue East and Leslie Street
(Categorized under: Hotels )
20 years ago - Wednesday, September 1, 2004 - Don Mills at 1075 Leslie Street
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2007 Historic photo from Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - Ontario Science Centre stamp - 52 cents - 750,000 issued May 9, 2007 - Canadian philatelic collection in Don MillsOntario Science Centre stamp - 52 cents - 750,000 issued May 9, 2007 - Canadian philatelic collection
(Categorized under: Ontario Science Centre )
17 years ago - Wednesday, May 9, 2007 - Don Mills at 770 Don Mills Road
Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada)
2007 Historic photo from 2007 - Demolition of the Bata Shoes Headquarters in Don MillsDemolition of the Bata Shoes Headquarters
17 years ago - 2007 - Don Mills
Link to archive record - Map location
2007 Historic photo from Saturday, December 1, 2007 - Bata International Building demolition in Don MillsBata International Building demolition
17 years ago - Saturday, December 1, 2007 - Don Mills
Max temp: °C - Min temp: °C - 13.0cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
2007 Historic photo from Saturday, December 1, 2007 - The demolition of the Bata International Building in Don MillsThe demolition of the Bata International Building
17 years ago - Saturday, December 1, 2007 - Don Mills
Max temp: °C - Min temp: °C - 13.0cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location