Historic Forestville Virtual Tour

Can’t visit us in person? Connect with Historic Foresville from the comfort of your own home!

Forestville’s first settler-colonists arrived in 1853 from New England, the Upper Midwest, and Canada, as well as from England, Ireland, Germany, and Holland. Wheat farms flourished nearby, and businesses sprang up in town. By 1860, the town had more than 150 residents and boasted 20 houses, a school, two sawmills, a gristmill, a blacksmith shop, a store, two hotels, a distillery, and a cabinetry shop. Farmers went to Forestville to market their wheat, purchase goods and services, and school their children. 

By 1870, two years after the railroad bypassed Forestville, the town’s population dropped to 68 people. By 1880, the only businesses still in Forestville were the general store, cabinet shop, and sawmill. By 1910, the town of Forestville was no more when the general store closed up shop.

Explore what’s left of the town of Forestville, including the Meighen General Store, with a self-guided, room-by-room virtual tour from your desktop or mobile device.

Virtual tour tips

• To look around, click and hold on the mouse or touchpad. Then move the mouse or a finger on the touchpad to the left, right, up or down to shift the view.
• To move on to another area, find a circled arrow and place the navigation hand on it. Words will appear describing where it leads. Click on the symbol to proceed.
• Visitors can also move on to another area by clicking on the thumbnail photos located below the main tour view.
• Fun facts and notable features are highlighted by an “i” enclosed in a circle.
• If you don't see the virtual tour, please refresh the page.