Windsor's Streetcar No. 351 drew about a third as many visitors in its second year

Windsor's Streetcar No. 351 drew 9,746 visitors from May 1 to Oct. 31, City figures show. That's about a third of the 28,000-plus in its first season in 2025. The Legacy Beacon that houses it cost $10.3 million, up from $7 million approved in 2020.

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351 exhibit drew 9,746 visitors between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2026, according to figures from the City of Windsor's culture department.

That is about a third of the turnout in its first year. The City said in a news release that the Legacy Beacon and Streetcar No. 351 site attracted more than 28,000 visitors during its first season of operations in 2025.

What it cost

Council approved the project, then called the Celestial Beacon, at an estimated $7 million in June 2020. After it moved to a new site near the foot of Caron Avenue, the budget rose to $8.4 million in October 2021. The City says the finished Legacy Beacon was a $10.3 million project, part of its 10-year capital plan for parks and recreation.

The streetcar was built in 1918 by the Cincinnati Car Company, according to the City. The site at 780 Riverside Drive West opened in April 2025 and also has a patio, a concession and an exhibit.

What it means for you

The site is closed for the season. The City's 2026 schedule ran from May 1 through Oct. 31, closed Mondays. Private tours run year-round for a fee and need two weeks' notice through Museum Windsor, according to the City.

A new mayor and council take office Nov. 15. If you have a view on how the City runs attractions like this one, contact your ward councillor.

Sources: City of Windsor news release on the Kulisek Prize and Streetcar No. 351 ( City of Windsor opening release, April 2025 ( CBC Windsor, Nov. 4, 2026 ( AM800, Nov. 2026 ( Windsor Star, June 16, 2020 ( Windsor Star, Oct. 2021 ( CBC Windsor, 2024 (

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