Discover Canada's Aboriginal Peoples at the Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History is Canada's busiest museum. It is located in Gatineau, a Quebec city just across the river from Ottawa. The museum's mission is to collect and preserve objects that bear witness to Canada's human history and, above all, to the diversity of its population. The museum is also appreciated for its architecture and its location on the banks of the Ottawa River.

The story of the History Museum begins in 1856 with the establishment of the Geological Survey of Canada. Its purpose was to explore the geosciences. It focused primarily on the energy mining sector, national sovereignty and the management of hazards in the territory. The Province of Canada passed a law allowing the Geological Survey of Canada to open a geological museum accessible to the public.

The first museum display was set up in Montreal in 1862. It consisted of stone pipes and a few fragments of pottery.

Since then, the museum has come a long way. Its collection was named the collection for the entire Dominion of Canada, then affiliated to the Minister of the Interior. The mandate was broadened to include the flora and fauna, languages and even the current living conditions of the unexploited regions of the country. During this period, the museum was moved to a former luxury hotel in Ottawa, Canada's capital, where it attracted far more visitors than in Montreal. After a new building and a devastating fire, the national museum was divided into two departments, natural history and human history. This division gave rise to the National Museum of Man and the National Museum of Natural Sciences. Since 2013, the museum has been called the Canadian Museum of History.

From Parliament Hill, you can see the history museum. But it's in Gatineau, on the other side of the Ottawa River.

Gatineau, a Quebec city opposite Ottawa

Gatineau is part of the province of Quebec. It is the largest city in the Outaouais region. The Quebec city lies just north of the Ottawa River. Along with Ottawa, it forms Canada's National Capital Region.

The Canadian Museum of History traces more than 20,000 years of human history in Canada, with a rare ethnic diversity. As well as being an incredible collection of artefacts, tools and art from the first peoples, the museum is a research centre where specialists in archaeology, ethnology and popular culture work.

The Museum of Canadian History is also home to :

• The Canadian Children's Museum: a museum entirely dedicated to children up to the age of 14.
• The Canadian War Museum: Canada's museum of military history.
• The Virtual Museum of New France: an online resource on the first French settlements in North America.

Throughout the year, the history museum organises rich and interesting temporary exhibitions, while the permanent exhibitions are divided into 3 rooms.

Six Aboriginal houses: the Grand Gallery

The Grand Gallery is actually made up of 6 Aboriginal houses representative of the dwellings of the first peoples on the west coast of Canada. Here you can discover not only the history, but also the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Aboriginal peoples: the First Nations, often referred to as Indians, the Inuit and the Métis.

The First Peoples Hall: fascinating artefacts, documents and images

More than 2,000 artefacts, images and documents make up the First Peoples' Hall. It's a unique opportunity to learn more about the history, diversity, creativity and ingenuity of Canada's Aboriginal peoples and communities.

Canadian history in 3 galleries

The Canadian History Room is made up of 3 galleries. Each is devoted to a different period in Canada's history. This is an opportunity for visitors and Canadians to discover or rediscover the history of the country and its people. In this room you can explore historical events, people and trends from time immemorial to the present day.