Heritage
Learn about London's rich heritage and history.
European settlement in London began in 1793 when then lieutenant-governor John Graves Simcoe selected the Forks of the Thames River as his choice for the future site of the capital of the province.
What is now known as the City of London was founded in 1826. However, oral history and archeological records show that the London region has been inhabited for over 10,000 years. Some of the indigenous peoples who have called this region home include the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Lenni-Lenape Nations.
There are at least eight different Indigenous languages spoken by residents of London. Since its release in 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report has acknowledged that “virtually all aspects of Canadian society may need to be reconsidered". The City of London has been working with the local First Nations – the Chippewa’s of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Munsee-Delaware First Nation to educate staff and the London community about the Indigenous communities that we serve and are connected to, the histories, cultures and current concerns of the First Nations and the lived experiences of urban Aboriginal communities.
London has a diverse and extensive inventory of cultural heritage resources. The cultural value of London’s extensive built heritage is one of Canada’s most significant, with over 6,000 properties listed on the City of London’s Register of Cultural Heritage Resources.
