Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History is a national museum in Gatineau, Quebec, directly across the Ottawa River from Ottawa. The museum houses extensive exhibits on Canadian social and cultural history and major collections of Indigenous art and material culture.

Interior highlights include a large vaulted entrance hall with monumental carved totem poles and ceremonial objects, a permanent Canadian history gallery that surveys the country’s past, and family-oriented spaces including a children’s museum. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and an IMAX screen.

The building was opened in 1989 as the Canadian Museum of Civilization and later retitled in 2013. Its architecture and displays were developed to present national and Indigenous histories to domestic and international visitors.

The museum sits on the Gatineau bank of the Ottawa River immediately opposite Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa, making it accessible by bridge and local transit from Canada’s capital.

• View of Parliament Hill: The museum faces Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River, and some outdoor terraces provide direct views of Canada's national government buildings.
• Name change and opening: Originally opened under a different name in 1989, the institution was renamed the Canadian Museum of History in 2013 to reflect a national focus on Canadian heritage.

What to See #

• Grand Hall: A vaulted entrance and display space that presents large artifacts such as carved totem poles and wide-angle views of the museum's collections.
• Canadian History Hall: A sweeping permanent gallery that presents the social and political development of Canada through artifacts, photographs and interpretive displays.
• Children's Museum: An interactive area designed for children with hands-on exhibits and programs, aimed at school groups and families.