History Toronto

The Historical Society of #Toronto was founded in 1837 by Mayor William Lyon Mackenzie. Ever since, it has been our mandate to bring our city's history to life.

[History Toronto @HistoryToronto_]

DYK #Toronto hosted the world's first biplane ground race? In 1925, local inventor Tobias Leblanc demonstrated his "terrestrial hydrofoil" in a race up Yonge St against a late model Packard and a Sopwith Camel, which was disqualified after it achieved liftoff. #TOhistory #Cdnhist

[History Toronto @HistoryToronto_]

Toronto issued its own currency for 6 mos in 1883. It became popular with bootleggers during Prohibition, because each "Upper Canada Dollar" was made of $5 of solid gold, but was ignored by police & customs agents who found them as a worthless novelty item. #cdnhist #TOhistory

[History Toronto @HistoryToronto_]

DYK that Peter Street used to be called #Tsar Street? Even if you did, you might not have known that it was renamed #Lenin Street during #WWII as part of Canada's alliance w/ #USSR, before being renamed in 1945 over the #Gouzenko affair.

#toronto #history #cdnhistory #cdnhist

[History Toronto @HistoryToronto_]

DYK that Charles Street West was originally named "King of Sweden Avenue"? Charles Street East, on the other hand, has always been called "Charles Street East".
#toronto #history #historians #cdnhistory #cdnhist #historians