As Canada’s capital, it’s unsurprising that Ottawa‘s museums are some of the best in the country. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly experience at a working farm or an introduction to the country’s diverse cultural history, we list the must-see museums in Ottawa.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum that features exhibits ranging from native animal and bird species to the human cultivation of natural resources. The building itself is architecturally stunning: housed inside the Victoria Memorial Museum Building, the museum has undergone extensive renovations over the last few years, and now perfectly combines aspects of traditional and modern architectural features.
Across the river from the city’s famous Parliament Hill is the Canadian Museum of History. Focusing on human history, with a particular focus on the country’s impressive cultural diversity, the exhibitions here cover an extensive 2000 years of history and the past, present and future of Canadian civilization. The place also includes a state-of-the-art IMAX theatre where you can watch selected films that offer a unique perspective on history.
Part of the Ottawa/Rockcliffe airport is the dedicated Aviation and Space Museum, the national centre of aeronautical history. Those with an interest in early aviation and vintage planes will be delighted by the excellent collection of military aircraft, many dating back as far as the 1920s. If you’re looking to get even closer to the action, the museum also offers flights in a vintage biplane for a true once in a lifetime experience.
The Canadian War Museum is an extensive chronology of the nation’s involvement in conflict, all the way from its origin to the modern day. Sobering and often moving, it exposes the realities of war in a sympathetic yet pragmatic manner.
Housed around a full working farm is the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, where you can both learn more about the nation’s history of food production. A true family friendly experience, kids will love petting the sheep and goats, while adults have plenty to interest them in the exhibits on farm science and technology.
