The 10 Best Specialty Museums in Ottawa, Canada

October 2, 2021 Tonie Szymanski

Canada's capital is a compact, clean, cleverly planned center of culture and politics and a destination for every season. Start downtown at the architecturally stunning National Gallery of Canada, and don't miss the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Rideau Canal offers boating in the summer and turns into the world’s largest skating rink when frozen in the winter. Gatineau Park attracts cyclists and walkers, while Byward Market blends old and new Ottawa.
Restaurants in Ottawa

1. Ottawa Museum Network

507-280 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1R7 Canada +1 613-234-1999 [email protected] http://www.ottawamuseumnetwork.ca
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Ottawa Museum Network

380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N4 Canada +1 613-990-1985 [email protected] http://www.gallery.ca/en/index.php
Excellent
63%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,055 reviews

National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada is committed to offering a welcoming and safe place for our visitors, employees and volunteers. To that end, in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have CLOSED the Gallery and cancelled all events and activities until further notice. Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada (Musee des beaux-arts du Canada) holds in trust a collection of European and Canadian paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photos.

Reviewed By whereverman - Hong Kong, China

A national treasure and my favourite spot in Ottawa. The gallery has a wonderful collection of Canadian and Modern Art. The building itself is a work of art with enormous glass ceilings and sunny courtyards between exhibits.

3. Canadian Museum of Nature

240 McLeod St, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2R1 Canada +1 613-566-4700 [email protected] http://nature.ca/en/home
Excellent
60%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,138 reviews

Canadian Museum of Nature

TEMPORARILY CLOSED. In accordance with current Government of Ontario directives during this pandemic, the museum is temporarily closed until further notice.

Reviewed By L971AWronb - Cobourg, Canada

The Museum of Nature building seamlessly blended the fort-like stone work with towering glass to make the experiance interesting for all ages. The butterfly exhibit was well worth the additional $5. You could spend a whole day viewing the tastefully arranged and informative displays of mamals, animals, birds and fish. They have created thought provoking interactive displays that entertain, educate and entice the viewer to get involved. This is a great family experiance.

4. Bank of Canada Museum

30 Bank Street At the corder of Bank and Wellington streets, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G9 Canada +1 613-782-8914 [email protected] http://www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca/
Excellent
55%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 202 reviews

Bank of Canada Museum

Enter the heart of the economic system and explore fun, hands-on, interactive exhibits that cover everything from how people’s expectations affect the health of an economy to how inflation targeting works (hint: you get to fly a rocket ship!). The Museum also features artifacts from the National Currency Collection -- the most complete collection of Canadian coins, notes and tokens in the world.

Reviewed By 851vandanak

We visited the museum by chance and were glad that we decided to go there. This place is so interesting and gives a lot of details about commerce and banks in general that we came back wisened! There are numerous displays inside, we saw the largest collection of bank notes of practically all the countries in the world. The tour guide was exceptionally good with her vast knowledge and wit.

5. Canada Aviation and Space Museum

11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, Ontario K1K 2X5 Canada +1 613-991-3044 [email protected] http://ingeniumcanada.org/casm/
Excellent
59%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 1,429 reviews

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Located on a former military air base just 5 kilometres from the Prime Minister’s residence in Ottawa, the Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context, from its beginnings in 1909 to the present day. As Canada’s contribution to aviation expanded to include aerospace technology, the Museum’s collection and mandate grew to include space flight. The Collection itself consists of more than 130 aircraft and artifacts (propellers, engines) from both civil and military service. It gives particular, but not exclusive, reference to Canadian achievements. The most extensive aviation collection in Canada, it is also considered one of the finest aviation museums in the world. Museum Highlights: Largest surviving piece of the famous Avro Arrow (its nose section); the original Canadarm used on the Endeavour space shuttle; Lancaster WWII bomber; Life in Orbit: The International Space Station exhibition.

Reviewed By ScubaJeffy - Victoria, Canada

This is a great museum for aviation enthusiasts, there are many very iconic Canadian aircraft on display, and lots of information on the history of aviation I. Canada

6. Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

3929 Carp Rd, Carp, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1L0 Canada +1 613-839-0007 [email protected] http://diefenbunker.ca
Excellent
66%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
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Terrible
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4.5 based on 1,330 reviews

Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

Visit one of the most unique tourist attractions in Canada! Built to protect top officials of the Canadian government from nuclear attack, this once-secret underground bunker is now a museum & National Historic Site of Canada. Explore over 100,000sq ft of bunker secrets and relive the experience of the Cold War. With its extraordinary engineering and architectural features, the Diefenbunker is a poignant reminder of one of the most turbulent periods of modern history.

Reviewed By Smith6774 - Atlanta, United States

What a great experience. Enjoyed taking a step back in time and envisioning what it could have been like having to live in the bunker.

7. Scouts Canada National Museum

1345 Baseline Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2C 0A7 Canada +1 613-224-5131 http://voy.scouts.ca/ca/scouts-canada-national-museum
Excellent
50%
Good
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4.5 based on 2 reviews

Scouts Canada National Museum

Reviewed By rhouben - Vancouver, Canada

Some of the artefacts were ones that resonated with me, as I had been a cub and scout back in the 1970s. For anyone with a recollection of scouting in Canada or elsewhere, this is a great place to visit!

8. Canada Science and Technology Museum

1867 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5A3 Canada +1 866-442-4416 [email protected] http://ingeniumcanada.org/cstm
Excellent
40%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
8%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 481 reviews

Canada Science and Technology Museum

The Canada Science and Technology Museum provides a highly digital experience for the whole family – igniting visitors with a passion for science and inspiring the next generation of Canadian innovators. After undergoing an $80.5-million renewal of its entire building, the museum features over 7,400 m2 (80,000 sq. ft.) of redesigned exhibition space, including an 850 m2 (9,200 sq. ft.) temporary exhibition hall to accommodate travelling exhibitions from around the world. Eleven new exhibitions – including the ZOOOM Children’s Innovation Zone, Artifact Alley and the Exploratek maker studio – as well as long-time visitor favourites, like locomotives and the Crazy Kitchen, delight visitors young and old.

Reviewed By ephesians5 - Toronto, Canada

This museum just reopened last November after 3 years of renovations. This is one of the best science museums that we have been. The building is modern with impressive and well laid out displays, and lots of hands on and interactive activities. This museum has something for all ages. The Zooom-Children Innovation Zone is for the younger children to explore and be creative through hands on activities. There is the Artifact Alley, which showcase the progression of technology of appliances, electrical equipment, such as TV, telephone, and lighting. The history of recorded music/sound was very well done with hands on and interactive displays to create own music/tune, as well as different inventions through time to play or record music/ sound, It covers steel manufacturing, mining, climate change, human body, climate change, sustainability and education on what an be recycled. Two very interesting displays are the teardown of the Smart Car and of an I-Phone, showing all the components and layers. In every area, there is hands on activities that will keep everybody interested from the youngest to the oldest person. Currently, there is an excellent special exhibit that ends on Labour Day called :The Art of the Brick". Is art made with Lego. There are Lego versions of famous art such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Van Goh Starry Night, Rembrandt, Rodin's the Thinker, Venus de Milo, Degas Ballerina among others. This is a paid exhibit. If you are not able to see it in Ottawa, this exhibit is also currently at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Center, which will end in January 2019. Due to construction, paid parking spaces are limited if it is a busy day. Admission to the permanent exhibit is free for those who have ASTC passport reciprocity in their science museum's membership. We highly recommend this museum, as we learned a lot through interesting and engaging manner.

9. Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

861 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2C 3K1 Canada +1 613-991-3044 [email protected] http://ingeniumcanada.org/cafm
Excellent
51%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 220 reviews

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is located at Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm, which traces its roots to 1886 and is the world’s only working farm in the heart of a capital city. The Museum offers programs and exhibitions on Canada’s agricultural heritage, food literacy, and on the benefits and relationship of agricultural science and technology to Canadians’ everyday lives. It provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see diverse breeds of farm animals important to Canadian agriculture past and present, and to learn about the food they eat. In addition to breeds common to Canadian agriculture, such as Holstein dairy cows and Angus beef cows, the Museum also has Canadienne dairy cows, Tamworth pigs, and Clydesdale horses. Many other breeds of dairy and beef cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, poultry, goats, and rabbits round out the collection. Public programming includes special weekend theme events, school programs, camps, tours and demonstrations.

Reviewed By rayg50 - Sudbury, Canada

we went there last year (2019) - never remembered to review it... but anyways, so this is a great place for kids to run around and have some interaction with animals. we spent a couple of hours there, and my kids really enjoyed making ice cream by themselves. fun time for sure.

10. Billings Estate National Historic Site

2100 Cabot St, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 6K1 Canada +1 613-580-2088 [email protected] http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-heritage-and-culture/museums-and-historic-sites/billings-estate-national-historic-site
Excellent
33%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
6%
Terrible
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4.0 based on 36 reviews

Billings Estate National Historic Site

The Billings family settled on the shores of the Rideau River in 1812 and took an active role in shaping the community as it evolved over time and until the 1970s when they left the estate. They helped build farms and churches, ran a dairy operation, and contributed to the development of the Byward Market by providing produce for sale and building the "Farmers' Bridge". This National Historic Site on 8 acres of green space is also home to one of Ottawa's oldest community cemeteries where well-known Ottawa pioneers, such as the Evans, Brouse and Firth families, are laid to rest.

Reviewed By kavehh2016 - London, Canada

Discover the fascinating stories of some of Ottawa’s earliest settlers at the historic Billings Estate. At this picturesque heritage site you will find the oldest wood-framed house in Ottawa, built from 1827 to 1829. This was home to Braddish and Lamira Billings, one of the founding families of Ottawa. Learn the story of this determined couple who were instrumental in establishing the local community. The home is now a museum featuring many interesting local artifacts honoring the legacy of the Billings family. The beautiful 8-acre site, blooming with flower gardens and green parkland, is also the site of one of the oldest cemeteries in Ottawa, with graves dating back to the 1820s. Billings Estate provides many different programs to make your visit an enjoyable experience. There are plenty of activities for children to enjoy, including scavenger hunts, old-fashioned games, and special holiday events. For those with more refined tastes, don’t miss Tea on the Lawn, a delightful high tea service available during the summer months. At Billings Estate you won’t have to go far to explore local history or find a tranquil spot to enjoy a picnic on a sunny day. Billings Estate is a seasonal site and therefore closed for regular visits from the end of October to early May (with the exception of pre-booked private visits, several special events and public programs hosted throughout the closed season). Regular operating hours of museum are Wed-Sun 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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