Mat Johnson - Historian, Tour Guide, Publisher

06/01/2026

You don't have to go far to experience great history! Grand Bend, Ontario, is home to the Lambton Heritage Museum. Newly renovated in 2023, the museum is home to a stunning collection of artifacts and items telling the fantastic historical story of Lambton County. Including this large scene, constructed by Marathon of History, showing the building of the St. Clair River railway tunnel by the Grand Trunk Railroad 1889-1891.

A close up from a 2023 model built for the Lambton Heritage Museum. This particular scene is showing the digging of the cut leading down to the level of the St. Clair River Grand Trunk tunnel.

05/30/2026

I’m looking forward to leading another Historic Hike! These events are free of charge, come out and join us on June 20!

Part of my historical walk on June 20 will include a stop at our Cenotaph. Here we will discuss the German mortar in our park, as well as the Cenotaph monument’s soldier. It’s free to join, just register through the West Grey Public Library. We will be meeting at the Conservation Area entrance off of Highway 6, half way up the Durham Hill 🚶🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️

05/28/2026

Some interesting history in our backyard! These UN-painted vehicles can be found in Angus, Ontario. Of course, just up the road is the Base Borden Military Museum where there are an incredible amount of vehicles representing the Canadian forces and those of other nations!

02/25/2026

For all of you military history fans, Marathon of History Magazine always has local and Canadian military history content! No AI writing. No AI-generated images. Just excellent history from local historians. No subscription required, 100% FREE to read right here: https://marathonofhistory.ca/digital-magazine

01/21/2026

This photo is in my top three favourite historical images of all time. There is something magical about the exact moment the camera caught this interaction between two young women during the First World War. Whatever joke or laugh they shared is frozen, yet lost to history, and I feel that is where the beauty lies. AI could animate this, sure, but wouldn't that cheapen the story? The movements wouldn't be theirs, not authentic in the least bit; we would be intruding on a moment that isn't ours to be part of, we weren't invited. In a historical sense is AI cool or is it destructive? Does it increase historical reflection or does it simply blend powerful images such as this into the blurry sea of other AI-generated nonsense? We are fighting a loosing battle in the historical world against AI, I just hope we can hang onto some of the true authenticity for a bit longer before it is gone.

01/05/2026

Our current new releases, and we have some beauties coming out in January / February!! Check it out here: https://marathonofhistory.ca/shop