Canadian Museum of Nature
Museum National natural history museum with extensive fossil collections
Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of Nature presents dinosaur skeletons, mineral collections, and natural history exhibits; visitors come for family-friendly displays, rotating exhibitions, and research collections.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada’s national natural history museum located in Ottawa and housed in the historic Victoria Memorial Museum Building. It presents natural science collections and exhibitions on Canada’s biodiversity, geology and palaeontology.
Permanent galleries cover fossils, mammals, birds, insects and earth sciences, with specimen displays, skeletons and interpretive exhibits designed for public audiences. Temporary exhibitions expand on specialised topics in natural history and conservation.
The museum traces its institutional origins to the early 20th century; the Victoria Memorial Museum Building that houses it was completed in the early 1900s and is one of Ottawa’s early federal museum buildings. The institution has evolved into the national museum for natural history and science collections.
The museum is located in downtown Ottawa on Metcalfe Street, within walking distance of Parliament Hill and other central cultural institutions.
- Historic building: Housed in the historic Victoria Memorial Museum Building, an early 20th-century landmark in downtown Ottawa.
- Exhibits: Major displays focus on palaeontology, mammals, birds and Canada's natural heritage, with large fossil and skeleton exhibits.
How to Get to Canadian Museum of Nature #
The museum is a 10-15 minute walk from Parliament Hill and a short bus ride from downtown Ottawa. Use local buses or a 10-15 minute taxi from Ottawa Central station; street parking is limited.
Tips for Visiting Canadian Museum of Nature #
- Time visits to join a guided specimen-handling session or tour - the museum's collections have many tactile and close-up opportunities.
- The Darwin invertebrate displays and the RBC Blue Whale skeleton are highlights not to miss.
- Allow 2-3 hours to see both permanent and temporary exhibitions thoroughly.
Best Time to Visit Canadian Museum of Nature #
Open year-round; winter is good for indoor exploration, while spring-autumn pairs well with outdoor activities in Gatineau and downtown Ottawa.
Weather & Climate near Canadian Museum of Nature #
Canadian Museum of Nature's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -16°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (929 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -6°C and lows of -16°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm).
Comfort
Weather
February
February is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -14°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm).
Comfort
Weather
March
March is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm).
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm).
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm).
Comfort
Weather
July
July is the warmest month with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm).
Comfort
Weather
August
August is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. The wettest month with 90 mm of rain.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm).
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).
Comfort
Weather
December
December is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -11°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).
.jpg?width=600)
