FB Pixel

Keene, Ontario

Keene is a pretty small village (population 547) situated in Otonabee.

The first settlers were Thomas and Andrew Carr who arrived in 1820, but Keene's founder was the energetic John Gilchrist. In 1819 he became the first doctor in Ontario to be issued a licence to practice 'physic surgery and midwifery.'

In 1825 Gilchrist built a grist mill on the Indian R., followed by a distillery and homes for his workers. In 1829 he opened the settlement's first store.

The community was originally known as Gilchrist's Mills, and then Otanabee, later corrected to Otonabee. But when the post office was established, Gilchrist renamed the place Keene after his hometown in New Hampshire.

The Keene Curling Club, organized in 1861 by Thomas Miller, is one of Ontario's oldest. One of Keene's tourist attractions is the nearby Serpent Mounds Provincial Park.

There are nine prominent burial mounds here where the First Nations Peoples buried their generations of dead. Excavations have revealed that the earth mounds were built by the Hopewellians, a tribe of First Nations Peoples who lived in the area about 2,000 years ago. The mounds are in the shape of a 200-foot-Iong (60.9 m) serpent and eggs. This serpent-shaped mound is unique in Canada.

Speak to a Canada Holiday Specialist

Call Us Free On

0800 021 7732

Our team of experts is on hand to help tailor-make your Canada holiday

Speak to one of our experts on 0800 021 7732

We are open today between 9am and 5:30pm

Make an enquiry

We don't just know Canada, we love it!


Tailor Made for You

  • We tailor make every holiday made around you.
  • Tell us what you'd like to see, what type of accommodation you prefer and how you'd like to travel.
  • We'll plan your perfect holiday, helping you to get the most from your time and budget.


Expert Advice

  • We don't just know Canada, we love it!
  • Our Canada Experts have travelled throughout Canada. They'll answer your questions with facts not guesses.
  • You'll have a dedicated Travel Expert to look after each stage of your booking.


100% Protected

  • We've been helping people explore Canada for more than 30 years.
  • Every trip is 100% ATOL protected.
  • We're only ever a phone call away.