Osgoode Hall

It may even be a little hard to miss for those passersby at the corner of Queen St and University Avenue. Thousands walk by the six acre property every day, as it sits so close to many attractions and prominent locations in downtown Toronto. A black iron fence with a line of tall disruptive trees make it so that pedestrians can hardly see the elaborate early 19th century building standing tall on the well kept property.

Osgoode Hall has stood the test of time, remaining in its central downtown location since 1832. Its original purpose was to act as the regulatory body for lawyers as well as house Upper Canada’s (now Ontario) first law school. The building was named after William Osgoode, Upper Canada’s first chief justice.

Osgoode Hall still remains associated and connected to law in Ontario. Osgoode Hall Law school eventually merged with York University and is no longer housed in its original home. The building holds offices and the Great Library for the Law Society in Ontario, as well as the Ontario Court of Appeal.

At the end of every May, Osgoode Hall’s entire facility can be accessed by the public for the City’s “Doors Open Toronto,” a celebration that commemorates historic buildings throughout the city. If you have a chance, you won’t want to miss the elegant halls of a truly mystifying architectural wonder.