Reflections of Muskoka Heritage Mural

In 1973, this large-scale (60 feet by 9 feet) historical mural painted on canvas by artist Forrest Jacobs, presents a visual overview of Muskoka’s cultural and community development. Through a series of interconnected scenes, the mural reflects the region’s evolution from early settlement to modern-day life, celebrating the people, industries, and landscapes that shaped Muskoka.

The mural was mounted on a wall overlooking the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) in the Riverside Shopping Centre. When the plaza closed and the building was converted into a hotel, the mural was removed and placed into storage by franchise owner Dave Knapp of Maple Orchard Farms who donated the mural to the Town of Bracebridge.

Over the years, the mural has been displayed in several community spaces, including the former Centennial Centre at 111 Wellington Street (now home to Georgian College). In advance of its installation at the Bracebridge Sportsplex in 2006, the mural was professionally restored by Roger Pearce (The Paint Doctor).

Today, the mural stands as a significant cultural artifact, inviting reflection on Muskoka’s growth, resilience, and enduring sense of community.

About The Artist

Forest Jacobs (1934–2020) was an American artist who worked primarily on large-scale painted works. For this commission, Jacobs painted the mural on canvas, combining historical storytelling with visual continuity.

Historic Breakdown

The following historic breakdowns are shared courtesy of Kenneth Carman Veitch, whose research and knowledge have contributed greatly to the preservation of local history.

1. Before European settlement, trade among Indigenous peoples was commonplace. The first significant interest non-Indigenous settlers had in Muskoka came through the fur trade. This scene depicts a trapper on snowshoes, armed with a flintlock rifle, returning from his trapline with a collection of pelts.

2. Prior to European settlement, Muskoka was home to a number of Indigenous tribes at different times, including the Iroquois, Ojibwa, Algonquin, Chippewa, Huron, and Mississauga. One popular camping location during their travels was the flatland at the base of the North Branch of the Muskoka River, near what is now Bracebridge Bay Park. This depiction shows a young Indigenous couple disembarking from their birchbark canoe at this historic site.

3. Explorers such as Étienne Brûlé, Samuel de Champlain, F.J. Bressani, and possibly even Norse adventurers were among the earliest to navigate Muskoka’s rivers and lakes. This scene illustrates them portaging over Bracebridge Falls as they charted the region.

4. To improve the defense of Upper Canada, the British Royal Engineers sought a water route between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River. Several surveyors and explorers, including J.P. Catty, W.B. Marlow, and W.M. Smith, traveled through Muskoka. Henry Briscoe is recorded as the first white man to journey up the Muskoka River, passing through what would become downtown Bracebridge. This scene depicts a typical exploration group at Bracebridge Bay.

5. Early surveyors and settlers debated the quality of Muskoka’s forests, but the lumber barons saw vast opportunity. Logging companies rapidly harvested the huge stands of pine and hardwood, transforming what seemed an endless forest into a landscape greatly altered within 50 years.

6. The thousands of sawlogs produced by intensive logging operations—some from as far upstream as Algonquin Park—were skidded and floated down the Muskoka River. This activity led to the establishment of numerous sawmills along the river and surrounding lakes, fueling the local economy.

7. Encouraged by promotional materials advertising Muskoka’s fertile farmland, European settlers traveled the Muskoka Colonization Road to meet the Crown Land Agent in Bracebridge. There, they were guided to their “Free Grant Lands,” beginning a new chapter of settlement and agriculture in the region.

8. Recognizing the rapid growth of Muskoka, the Harvie Stage Company established scheduled passenger and freight routes to serve remote communities. Their central office was located at the site now occupied by Memorial Park in downtown Bracebridge.

9. In 1866, the Wenonah, the first steamboat of A.P. Cockburn’s Muskoka Navigation Company, landed at Bracebridge Bay, marking a new era of water-based transportation for passengers and goods throughout the Muskoka region.

10. The Nipissing, a flagship of the Muskoka Navigation Company, marked the beginning of tourism on Muskoka Lake. Vacationers aboard the steamboat enjoyed the region’s picturesque scenery, which became an essential part of the Muskoka holiday experience.

11. In 1885, the Northern Railway was extended to Muskoka Lake and into Bracebridge, overcoming significant engineering challenges. Workers constructed a lengthy bridge over the South Branch of the Muskoka River and carved a 60-foot-deep, 300-foot-long rock cut to complete the line, connecting the town to wider markets and visitors.

12. A.P. Cockburn, founder of the Muskoka Navigation Company, was an entrepreneur, former Member of Provincial Parliament, and a tireless promoter of Muskoka to the world. His efforts were instrumental in establishing tourism and economic growth in the region.

13. Bracebridge experienced a period of economic boom as prospectors explored the land, farmers cleared fields, leather tanneries were established, ships hired crews, manufacturers built plants, and blacksmiths and service industries flourished to support the growing community and its visitors.

14. Tourism in Muskoka flourished with the convenience and charm of the Muskoka Navigation Company’s cruise ships. Luxurious resorts sprang up along the shores of Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau, and Joseph, celebrated for their stunning design, prime locations, and prestige. One of the most iconic was the Royal Muskoka Hotel on Lake Rosseau, affectionately known as “The Grand Old Dame of the Lake.” Designed by the same architect who later created New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, it opened in 1901 and thrived for nearly 50 years before being destroyed by fire in 1952—a fate shared by many of Muskoka’s grand resorts.

15. With the rise of tourism came a new phenomenon: bathing beauties. While early pioneers, often deeply religious, considered this shocking, vacationers embraced the trend, adding a lively, fashionable element to Muskoka’s lakeside culture.

16. Tourists didn’t always stay at resorts or private cottages. As roads improved, driving holidays became popular. Hardy travelers were happy to pull off the road, sit on a log, and enjoy a picnic, sometimes improvising with the bottom of a canoe as a table.

17. Alongside vacationers came the sport of golf. Initially modest, the game grew in popularity, and some golf courses outlasted the very resorts that established them, becoming lasting recreational treasures in the Muskoka region.

18. Entertainment was an important part of Muskoka’s allure. The Bracebridge Citizens Band, composed primarily of local musicians, gained widespread acclaim and was in great demand across Ontario, performing at parades, events, and competitions for many years.

19. As private cottages multiplied along the lakeshores, visitors discovered that Muskoka’s beauty extended beyond the summer months. Shorelines were enhanced with docks and gazebos, and cottages were designed to provide comfort during cooler seasons, allowing tourists to enjoy the region year-round.

20. While most resorts were initially accessible only by steamship, the gradual improvement of roads allowed horse-drawn wagons—and later, early automobiles like the “Tin Lizzie”—to reach Muskoka. This led to a proliferation of directional signs at intersections, in every size, shape, and colour, guiding travelers throughout the area.

21. Winter recreation became a vital part of Muskoka life as the population grew. Ice fishing, curling, hockey, snowmobiling, and skiing flourished as facilities were developed to support these activities. The Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School ski team won the Ontario High School championship four years in a row, from 1974 to 1977. Bracebridge’s arenas and sports facilities have hosted numerous provincial championships, and many local athletes have achieved national and international recognition in hockey, lacrosse, figure skating, and skiing.

22. Following the success of the Winonah in 1866, A.P. Cockburn’s Muskoka Navigation Company expanded rapidly, providing passenger and freight services—including Royal Mail—to the growing settlement originally known as “North Falls,” later designated as the Bracebridge Post Office in 1864. As ships grew larger, dredging was required in parts of the river, and more substantial wharfs were constructed. This scene depicts the restored Segwun sailing in Bracebridge Bay, accompanied by a flotilla of watercraft. In the background, the iconic Silver Bridge, built in the 1930s, and the Northern Railway bridge of the 1880s rise above the bay, marking Bracebridge’s unique waterfront identity.

23. As the area developed, the majestic pine trees returned to maturity after being heavily harvested in previous decades. Their towering tops continue to define the Bracebridge skyline. Tourism remains a cornerstone of Muskoka’s economy, now complemented by a growing focus on environmental protection and eco-tourism, reflecting a balance between economic growth and sustainability.

24. The 1960s and 1970s saw a flourishing of manufacturing, retail, and service industries in Bracebridge. Riverside Plaza, with its charming gazebos along the Muskoka River, became a community hub. Construction companies proliferated, while factories such as Canadian Motor Lamp, Simcoe Block, Canada Foils, Alcan Wire and Cable, and Corning Glassworks provided local employment and produced a wide range of industrial goods. Churches and schools expanded to meet community needs, farming evolved into a more recreational pursuit, and logging continued, now managed with greater environmental care, maintaining its important role in Muskoka’s economy.