Rarely can you actually smell two hundred years of history when you walk into a museum. Even rarer is a museum you can walk into with your dog. But on Nancy Island, in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, you can do both. Here, you can enrich your dog’s exercise and your own historical knowledge.

Protected under an atrium-like canopy on Nancy Island is the burnt hull of HMS Nancy, a British supply schooner used to defend Upper Canada during the War of 1812. Walk up the ramp to see what’s left of the ship, and a distinct smoky cedar smell wafts through the air – in a sensory moment, the charred hull of the ship reminds visitors of her heroic yet tragic history.

Nancy Island History

During the War of 1812, the grand schooner was used to run supplies from here to Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, now in Michigan. In 1814, the ship was confronted by three American warships on the Nottawasaga River. Rather than permit her to fall into enemy hands, the Nancy was set ablaze and sunk. Gradually, Nancy Island built up around her, and she was forgotten. Almost. For decades, myths about buried battleships danced in the imaginations of historians and storytellers.

In 1911, what’s left of the ship was uncovered, and in 1928, the now island was preserved as a historic site. In Canada’s centennial year, a museum was established. However, for 20 years, the ship’s hull was left exposed to the elements and covered with a tarp in the winter. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the protective structure surrounding her now was built.

Dog-friendly Nancy Island

Nancy Island in Wasaga Beach, Ontario is easy to overlook – especially if you came to Wasaga Beach to simply go to the beach. But missing it would be a shame.

Admission is free. You walk through (yes, with your dog) a small, well-crafted museum documenting the area’s resort town history, then cross an almost enclosed wooden bridge that takes you to the island. On the island are historical markers like flags and cannons, reminding everyone this is British/Canadian history we’re viewing.

At one end of the small island is a large metal event space shaped like schooner sails. A lot of green space leads to the museum housing the charred hull on one side and historical references on the other, including a reproduction of the wooden white dressed figurehead that graced Nancy’s bow.

Relaxing Dog Walk

Outside, the landscaped greenspace makes for the ideal dog walk – the ground is level along the gravel paths, but bring your own water especially on hot days. Dogs must remain on leash and are asked not to disturb nesting birds. Otherwise, it’s a park.

The morning I visited with my dog, one corgi and her person were the only others sharing the space. History is smelly and my dog loved following the trail of who knows what that previously moved through this grass. Nosing along collecting feathers is her other favourite thing to do, and between the Canada Geese and sea gulls, she scavenged a lot of treasures.

Nancy Island Lighthouse

Unfortunately, the day we visited, the narrow wooden walking bridge to the lighthouse was off limits, which is a shame because extending our dog walk around the replica Nancy Island Lighthouse, built in 1967, would have been an ideal extension of a scenic dog walk – and great for pics too.

We spent about an hour here, though could have lingered longer because my dog was relishing the freedom of no crowds, no cars, and few restrictions about where she could stick her nose. She also got to charm museum staff, which is always high on her must-do list.

Wasaga Beach claims to be the world’s largest freshwater beach at 14 kilometres long, and yes, there’s a dog beach on Beach 3, run by Ontario Provincial Parks. (Check out our guide to dog-friendly Wasaga Beach here). Considering the party beach vibe of the town, exploring history feels like a bit of an afterthought.

Truthfully, I nearly missed experiencing dog-friendly Nancy Island on my weekend visit to Wasaga Beach, but I’m glad I didn’t. While the beach is where we spent most of our weekend, sometimes the most unexpected pet-friendly experiences are found in places you almost drive past.

If you go..

Nancy Island Historic Site – Wasaga Beach

• Location: 119 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
• Admission: Free. $5 per person for guided tours
• Open: 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm
• Dogs: Allowed throughout the site on leash
• Walk time: 45–60 minutes
• Terrain: Mostly flat and river adjacent
• Best for Quiet walks, history lovers, and adult or senior dogs
• Combine with an afternoon on the Wasaga Beach Dog Beach

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!