Northumberland County Archives and Museum

The Northumberland County Archives and Museum (NCAM) is open to the public by appointment for research, tours and educational programming.

Visit us

NCAM is located in the Cobourg Public Library building, located at 200 Ontario Street in Cobourg.

We're open Monday to Friday by appointment only. Please contact us by email or phone to schedule an appointment. Please note NCAM is closed on all statutory holidays.

By car
From Hwy 401, take exit 472 to Burnham Street. Head south on William Street (County Road 2). At the King Street intersection, continue south to Ontario Street. Turn east (left) on albert Street and the parking lot will be immediately on the north side. 
By transit

Town of Cobourg Transit offers bus service on Route 2 to the nearest intersection. Via Rail provides regular service to the Cobourg VIA station, located on Division Street.

Parking and accessibility

  • Accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-friendly building 
    • Automated sliding doors at the main entrances
    • Touchpad-operated power doors into the library
  • Elevator available to the second floor of the library
  • Assistance dogs are welcome in all public areas

The Archives is located on the main floor in the south-west corner of the foyer. The door into the Archives and Museum opens manually, so please knock and staff will be there to open it and assist you.

Reminders for visitors

  • Food, gum, cough drops and beverages are not permitted in the Archives and Museum
  • We strive to be a scent-free environment to support the wellbeing of all our staff and visitors

Educational programs

Are you interested in bringing your students for a tour? Would you like an archival lesson to incorporate into your curriculum at school? Contact us to learn how we can engage your class!

Research services

We encourage all researchers to book an appointment in advance so we can prepare for your visit and reserve a space for you. Please submit your Research Request Form in advance to help us help you!

What to expect 

When you arrive, we will review your research request with you. We assess what we have in our collection relevant to your inquiry, retrieve materials from storage for you and demonstrate proper handling techniques. Though we cannot do the research for you, we are here to answer your questions and provide access to materials. There is no fee to conduct your research independently at NCAM. If you are unable to continue researching in person, we are available to help with your research at a cost of $30 per hour.

What to bring

  • Pencils and erasers - pens and highlighters are not permitted
  • Notepad, tablet or laptop
  • Previous research notes
  • Specific research questions
  • Camera or phone
  • Cash for copies or scans - our list of fees outlines any costs for reproductions