Fascinating Redcoats. The Story of Wolseley Barracks

Visit RCRM’s new exhibition, Fascinating Redcoats (26 Jun–20 Sept), held during the bicentennial year of the City of London, ON.
About this Event

Fascinating Redcoats or the Story of Wolseley Barracks traces the origins and evolution of the Infantry School building – now known as “A” Block at Wolseley Barracks– on lands once part of Treaty 6 of 1792. Through archival maps, architectural drawings, photographs, and other artefacts, Fascinating Redcoats reveals how the arrival of “D” Company of the Infantry School Corps transformed the local landscape, economy, and community life.

Visitors will be introduced to stories of the soldiers and their families who lived and worked at the barracks. Households, offices, and entertainment were part of the architectural design. The exhibition also highlights the building’s distinctive features and construction, overseen by the Public Works Department in Ottawa, and executed by local businesses.

Five Curated Tours are scheduled throughout the summer to enhance the content:

• 16 July 2026 at 2pm How the Valley at Carling’s Farm Became Wolseley Barracks
• 16 July 2026 at 6pm The Infantry School Building: Central Planning and Local Execution
• 25 July 2026 at 11am Comfortable Barracks for Men of Good Physique and Character
• 14 August 2026 at 11am Then and Now: The Ever-Changing Military Presence
• 20 August 2026 at 6:30pm Mrs. Horner and Mrs. Kaye: Two Women Who Called Wolseley Barracks Home