Yesterday the Town of Gravenhurst recognized a man who founded tourism in Muskoka by dedicating Cockburn Square, at Muskoka Wharf.

The Gravenhurst Municipal Heritage Committee officially unveiled two historical panels which commemorate the proud era of the lake steamers and honour Alex P Cockburn, considered to be the ‘Father of Muskoka’.

Cockburn, who first arrived in Muskoka from Orillia in 1865, fell in love with the area, saw the potential it had for tourism, and devoted his life to developing it. The new settlements that began six years prior to his arrival were struggling and the government was considering abandoning the area as Ojibwas native hunting ground.

Some of Cockburn’s efforts to develop the area included pushing the government to build more roads and improve navigation of locks and canals, and have the railway extended from Barrie to Gravenhurst, and built steamboats for freight, passengers, mail, and logs.

He promoted the area to the rest of the world through newspapers and guidebooks for tourists and sportsmen.

He developed the District from a population of 600 upon his arrival to 30,000 by his death in 1905.