A visit to the quiet village of Sparta can feel like a trip back in time. The lives of many of its inhabitants throughout the 1800s unfolded in buildings which can still be seen today.  You can feel a sense of history when you visit the businesses housed in those heritage structures. And you can explore it further by stopping in at the Forge and Anvil Museum or Sparta Church Museum & Cultural Centre or by taking the self-guided Sparta Walking Tour.

A plaque trail of permanent markers which record local events and people significant to the War of 1812 was unveiled at events hosted by The Elgin County 1812 Committee on Sunday June 28th. The launch event took place at two locations of the nine on the trail - Port Glasgow Memorial Park and St. Stephen's Church Graveyard. 

Although the majority of more well-known battles of the War of 1812 took place in other areas, like the Niagara region, there has been an increased recognition that the war also had substantial and long-lasting impacts on the settlers who lived in Southwestern Ontario, including in Elgin County.