After being abandoned by the militia in 1885, Murney Tower remained unused for decades and fell into disrepair. In 1921, a storm blew a piece of the Tower’s roof off, killing a young boy. It was this tragedy that prompted the Kingston community to approve the creation of the Murney Tower Museum, which opened in 1925 under the leadership of the Kingston Historical Society. As one of the last British works of defence to be constructed in the Canadian interior, Murney Tower holds a special significance to Canadian history, which led to its designation as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1930. In addition to its own designation, the Tower is also part of the Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site of Canada and the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site. Today, the Murney Tower National Historic Site of Canada continues to welcome visitors from around the world every summer.

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