Quintuplet Drive, Dionneville, The Quintuplet Village, and Quintland all described a 300 meter stretch of road that attracted over three million tourists in the 30s and 40s as they came to watch five identical girls dance and play in an outdoor observatory.
This "Coney Island of the North" rivalled Niagara Falls as the top tourist destination in Canada as thousands of people each day were counted waiting in line for these free shows. For the area, an influx of tourists meant an opportunity for business and commercialization, and in a short amount of time souvenir shops, information booths, public restrooms, and other buildings to develop.
"This exhibit explores the evolution of Quintland, from a regular country road to a bustling attraction that compared to the likes of Radio City Music Hall, Mount Vernon, and Gettysburg," says Natasha Wiatr, curator of the Callander Bay Heritage Museum, where an exhibit on the Quints is being displayed. "It is comprised of many photographs from private collections, as well as unique artifacts that have a relation to these various buildings."
The official opening of this exhibit is Saturday, May 26 at 2 p.m. with light refreshments and free museum admission. Donations are welcome.
Location: Callander Bay Heritage Museum (107 Lansdowne St. E. in Callander, just up the street from the corner of Main St. and Lansdowne St.)
