Local hero Billy Bishop, the famous World War I flying ace, has come up a couple of times on my blog (in this quiz and this collection of stories), but now I’m going to share about our visit to Billy Bishop Home and Museum last month.

Credited with 72 victories, William “Billy” Avery Bishop was Canada’s most successful flying ace during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for an attack on a German aerodrome on June 2, 1917.

The museum is located in the Victorian home where Billy was born and lived until age 17: 948 3rd Ave West, Owen Sound. Inside you’ll find furniture, clothing, and other artifacts that belonged to the Bishop family. I especially enjoyed the many photographs of Billy and his family, such as him and his sister being pulled in a sled by their dog. It was also fun to read about young Billy riding around Owen Sound on his horse, shooting at squirrels!

My kids enjoyed traipsing through the house, looking at the model planes, tea service, and pantry. Their favourite thing, though, was pressing the buzzer that the family used to call their servants! (There was one in the parlour and another — inaccessible one — under the dining room table.)

Besides the Bishop family artifacts, the museum hosts temporary exhibits relating to Canada’s military history. The current exhibit is “The Unseen: 75 Years in the Canadian Armed Forces” and coming in June is “Ground Truth: Stories of Canada’s War in Afghanistan.”

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children. The museum has a small gift shop and occasional special events. If you’re interested in historic houses or World War I, come check it out!