The Canadian Museum of History welcomes over 1.2 million visitors each year to its celebrated complex in the heart of the National Capital Region, making it the country’s most-visited museum. With roots stretching back to 1856, it is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions and a respected centre of museological excellence, sharing its expertise in history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies both within Canada and abroad.

In addition to its ongoing exhibitions, including the spectacular Grand Hall and First Peoples Hall, each year the Museum presents a number of outstanding exhibitions focusing on Canadian and world history and civilizations. These exhibitions include those developed by the Museum as well as many produced by other Canadian or international institutions. The Museum is also home to the Canadian Children’s Museum, a 500-seat theatre and the CINÉ+, a 295-seat movie theatre equipped with a giant 3D screen and a giant dome. Online, the Canadian Museum of History presents a number of excellent virtual exhibitions, including the Virtual Museum of Canada and the Virtual Museum of New France.

Research activities are concentrated in the fields of history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies. The National Collection consists of more than four million artifacts, specimens, works of art, written documents, and sound and visual recordings. More than 218,000 artifacts in the collection are accessible in an online database.

Exhibition Galleries

The Canadian Museum of History has roughly 25,000 square metres of display space, spread over four floors in its Museum Building.

Museum Publications

Through our rich collection of publications, we hope to bring the Museum a bit closer to our fellow Canadians and to interested readers around the world.

Canadian Children’s Museum

BRING YOUR KIDS TO THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AND THEY WON’T WANT TO LEAVE!

The Museum lets the kids travel the world, while enriching their lives and broadening their experience by exploring other cultures through exhibitions, costumes, hands-on props, and artifacts, including an extraordinary assortment of toys and games.

They can clamber aboard a lavishly decorated Pakistani bus and a three-wheeled auto rickshaw from Thailand. Or step inside a Bedouin tent and homes from India, Indonesia and Mexico. The Museum’s diversity and richness engage children of all ages, allowing them to explore and learn through play at their own pace.

It’s a fun, memorable first step in a child’s understanding of the arts, culture and history.

The Canadian Children’s Museum is located inside the Canadian Museum of History. Admission Fees to the Canadian Museum of History include access to the Children’s Museum, special exhibitions and to all the Museum’s galleries.