Essential Ottawa Magazine Where Ottawa Essential 2018 | Page 10

c u lt u r e
Museums
step into another world at national museums
Bytown Museum
Explore the stories of an evolving
city at this hidden gem of a
museum. The permanent
exhibition, Ottawa Begins Here!,
presents a chronological overview
of the city, first named Bytown for
Colonel John By. Located at the
Rideau Canal locks between
Parliament Hill and the Fairmont
Château Laurier hotel, this
museum pairs well with a walk
along the Ottawa River behind
Parliament Hill. A six-language
audio guide is included with
admission. 1 Canal Lane,
613-234-4570, bytownmuseum.com
Canadian Museum of History
Learn about Canada’s early history
at this massive architecturally
inspiring museum. The compre-
hensive Canadian History Hall
includes three new galleries show-
casing the unsung, celebrated, and
even hard-to-swallow aspects of
Canada’s story. These include the
land’s ancient past explored
through Indigenous traditions and
archaeological research; the
prosperity of the 20th and 21st
centuries; beloved folk heroes and
heroines; and the dark legacies of
colonial Canada that remain
relevant today. The Canadian
Children’s Museum can also be
found here — the interactive
exhibits that focus on the world and
its cultures will entertain kids of all
ages. 100 rue Laurier, Gatineau,
through exhibits on scientific
research, a massive 3-D map of the
Arctic, and a dedicated space that
focuses on Northern peoples and
their relationship with the land.
240 McLeod St., 613-566-4700,
nature.ca
Canadian War Museum
Permanent exhibits explore war
through the ages, from battles
between First Peoples to recent
peacekeeping missions and
conflicts. Don’t miss the Lebreton
Gallery, where over 100 tanks and
Bytown Museum
819-776-7000, historymuseum.ca
Canadian Museum of Nature
Located in a Gothic-style castle,
this museum brings natural history
to life through interactive displays,
impressive skeletons, and even live
bugs and frogs! Its specimen col-
lection will captivate the seasoned
scientist and the budding explorer
alike. Don’t miss the newly opened
Canada Goose Arctic Gallery,
which aims to change the way
people understand the Far North
Canadian Museum
of History
10 where
EssEntial ottawa