PumpHouse

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PumpHouse The PumpHouse is a museum run by the City of Kingston and a cooperative hive of very organized Bees.

Housed in Kingston’s 1851 waterworks, we bring STEAM topics and history to life through hands-on fun and interactive exhibits

10/21/2026

Notice: We are closing at 12 p.m. today for a staff event. 🐝

The bees may be flying away, but there’s still plenty to explore. 🐝➡️🚂⚙️After BEES! closes Oct. 31, our exhibition hall ...
10/21/2026

The bees may be flying away, but there’s still plenty to explore. 🐝➡️🚂⚙️
After BEES! closes Oct. 31, our exhibition hall will take a little break, but the rest of the PumpHouse is still humming along.
Explore the historic Pump Room and its impressive machinery, watch the miniature world come to life in the Swyrich Train Room, or get hands-on in the Discovery Centre.
Cold weather outside? Come explore inside.
📷 STRUCKBLOG

10/20/2026

Some sweat bees are attracted to the salt and minerals in human perspiration. On hot summer days, they may land on your skin for a quick salty sip.
A little unsettling? Maybe. But these tiny bees are important pollinators, and they’re generally not aggressive. Their stings are usually mild and most often happen only if they’re trapped or pressed against the skin.
Apparently, nectar isn’t the only thing on the menu. 😬🐝
Learn more at BEES!
🐝 Hurry! BEES! flies away Oct. 31.

If BEES! has been sitting on your “we should do that” list, this is your sign. 👀🐝Explore the exhibition, learn something...
10/19/2026

If BEES! has been sitting on your “we should do that” list, this is your sign. 👀🐝
Explore the exhibition, learn something unexpected and squeeze in a family visit before it closes.
BEES! leaves the PumpHouse Oct. 31.
BEES! was developed by the City of Surrey’s Museum of Surrey in collaboration with Honeybee Centre of Surrey and funded by the Government of Canada.
📷 STRUCKBLOG

10/17/2026

Not every bee comes dressed in black and yellow.
Some sweat bees shine in metallic shades of green, blue and bronze, making them look more like tiny jewels than the bees we usually picture. Their small size and glossy bodies mean they’re often mistaken for flies or wasps, but they’re important pollinators in their own right.
Nature clearly decided stripes weren’t the only option. 💚
Learn more at BEES!
🐝 Hurry! BEES! flies away Oct. 31

One last buzz before it’s gone. 🐝There’s still time to explore BEES! at the PumpHouse and discover just how much there i...
10/16/2026

One last buzz before it’s gone. 🐝
There’s still time to explore BEES! at the PumpHouse and discover just how much there is to learn about these tiny pollinators.
Visit before the exhibition flies away Oct. 31.
BEES! was developed by the City of Surrey’s Museum of Surrey in collaboration with Honeybee Centre of Surrey and funded by the Government of Canada.

There’s still time to get curious. 🐝Bring the family and explore the surprising world of bees, from pollination and beek...
10/14/2026

There’s still time to get curious. 🐝
Bring the family and explore the surprising world of bees, from pollination and beekeeping to the many ways these tiny insects shape the world around us.
BEES! is on now at the PumpHouse, but only until Oct. 31.
Come see it before it flies away.
BEES! was developed by the City of Surrey’s Museum of Surrey in collaboration with Honeybee Centre of Surrey and funded by the Government of Canada.

📷 STRUCKBLOG

10/13/2026

The differences between wasps and bees extends to diet.
Bees gather nectar and pollen from flowers. Many wasps also visit flowers for sugary nectar, but they may hunt insects or spiders to feed their young. That makes wasps important predators of garden pests such as flies and caterpillars.
Bees bring home pollen. Wasps may bring home a caterpillar. Different lunchboxes entirely.
Learn more at BEES!
🐝 Hurry! BEES! flies away Oct. 31.

What happens after BEES! flies away?Our exhibition hall may be taking a little winter break, but there’s still plenty to...
10/12/2026

What happens after BEES! flies away?

Our exhibition hall may be taking a little winter break, but there’s still plenty to explore at the PumpHouse.

🚂The Swyrich Train Room and Discovery Centre are still here, ready for rainy days, chilly afternoons and those “we need to get out of the house” moments.

Come make the PumpHouse part of your cold-weather plans.

📷 STRUCKBLOG

10/11/2026

Bee or wasp? Here’s your quick pre-panic checklist.
🐝 Bees are generally rounder and fuzzier, with hairs that help collect pollen.
〰️ Wasps are often longer and more slender, with smoother, shinier bodies and fewer hairs.
Of course, nature loves exceptions, so these aren’t foolproof rules, but they’re a good place to start before the flailing begins.
Learn more at BEES!
🐝 Hurry! BEES! flies away Oct. 31.

Address

23 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON
K7L2Y2

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

6135447867

Website

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