Canadian Museum of Nature Museum

Address: 240 McLeod St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2R1, Canada

Website: https://nature.ca/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mondays (check seasonal variations)

Admission: Adults approx. CAD $20-$25, concessions available; check website for current pricing

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.

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.

• 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.