Symmes Inn Museum unveils new escape room

Greg Newing

The Symmes Inn Museum officially opened the Office of Charles Symmes escape room on Saturday, May 6. Visitors to the museum can now enter the private office of Charles Symmes to solve puzzles and crack codes while learning about regional history. The new escape room celebrates the 225th anniversary of the birth of Charles Symmes, who was Aylmer’s second mayor. Located on the top floor of the museum, this is the first time that the office will be open to the public.   

Escape rooms challenge players to cooperate to solve puzzles in order to “escape” before time runs out. The Office of Charles Symmes escape room has a 60-minute time limit during which groups of two to four players will search through Charles Symmes’ office to find clues, solve puzzles, and find the secret code to escape. 

At an unveiling event on May 4, Director Anyssa Doiron shared how the idea emerged after she visited local escape rooms last summer, “When we were asked how we would celebrate the 225th birthday of Charles Symmes, I had just visited an escape room the week before and thought it would be a fun and interesting way to attract new visitors to the museum and celebrate Mr Symmes’ significance for the region.” 

Doiron said that the office had previously been used as storage space and that she spent the past six months redesigning the office and creating puzzles for the public opening.  She noted that the puzzles touch on the life of Charles Symmes and highlight other themes regarding the history of Aylmer and the Outaouais region. 

Costs and reservation

The Symmes Inn Museum is located at 1 rue Front in Old Aylmer. While no registration is required to visit the museum’s other exhibits, visitors to the escape room must reserve a time slot and pay in advance. The activity is designed for two to four people at a time and the cost is $15 a person. While open to all ages, there must be at least one adult with any group that includes children under 16. The activity is offered in both English and French. To register visit www.symmesevasion.ca. 

Symmes Inn Museum 2023 summer programming

In addition to the new escape room, the museum will host “Les beaux dimanches au Musée” this year for the second time. Visitors will be able to listen to classical concerts while being served tea outdoors on four Sundays from June to August. The museum will also host film screenings, live outdoor concerts, and interactive theatre during the “Ode à la rivière des Outaouais” festival in early August.  In addition, the annual “Heritage Garden” day camp will open again in July and August where children will learn how to grow and harvest their own vegetables. More information on the museum’s summer programming will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page and website at www.symmes.ca in the coming weeks.

Photo 1: Visitors to the Symmes Inn Museum escape room will have to solve mysteries and crack codes to escape from Charles Symmes’ office.

Photo credit : Greg Newing.

Photo 2: Symmes Inn museum Director General Anyssa Dorion speaking at opening event, May 4.

Photo credit : Greg Newing.

Photo 3: Museum President Gilles Laroche speaking to guests at opening event, May 4.

Photo credit : Greg Newing.