The Museum's collections have grown over the years and now number over 12,500 artifacts: far too many to be all on display at once! In order to highlight different aspects of the collections, we offer three time-limited changing exhibitions as well as one semi-permanent exhibition.
Footwear fanatics will find their bliss at this Bloor Street institution. Celebrating its 20th year this May, the shoe museum boasts a comprehensive collection of over 13,000 shoes, with 1,000 artifacts on display at any given time. Exhibits range from funky to functional to famous (think Justin Bieber’s sneakers and Marilyn Monroe’s red leather stilettos). During the Doors Open festival, museum docents will give visitors a hands-on demonstration of some of the more intricate shoes and put on footwear-themed crafting activities and scavenger hunts for children.
Chinese foot-binding is hard to fathom in theory but once you get up close to the tiny shoes, you’ll be amazed at the advancements in footwear through the centuries. Check out the shoes worn by some of the most famous people in history (John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe), and see how shoes were made before assembly line production came into existence. Open every day of the week, admission is comparable to a movie ticket.
Want to get a glimpse of Marilyn Monroe’s heels or Justin Bieber’s high-top sneakers? Footwear fanatics can seek refuge inside this colourful shoe mecca on Bloor Street West. The museum displays more than 12,500 permanent artifacts and rotating exhibitions with footwear from a diverse range of geographic areas, time periods and cultural groups.