Bytown Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1917 |
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| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada lower locks of the Rideau Canal at the Ottawa River just below Parliament Hill |
| Type | Museum |
The Bytown Museum (also known as Musée Bytown in French) is a museum in Ottawa, Canada. It is located right by the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River, close to Parliament Hill. The museum is inside the Commissariat Building, which is the oldest stone building still standing in Ottawa. It tells the story of how Bytown grew into the city we know today as Ottawa.
The museum was started in 1917 by a group called the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa (WCHSO). It first opened at 70 Nicholas Street. In 1951, the museum moved to its current home in the Commissariat Building. It has been there ever since, except for a short time from 1982 to 1985 when the building was being fixed up.
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The Story of the Bytown Museum
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The Bytown Museum first opened its doors in 1917. Back then, it was called the 'Bytown Historical Museum'. It was located in an old city office building on Nicholas Street in Ottawa.
How the Museum Started
A group of about 30 women, called the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa (WCHSO), started the museum. Their goal was to learn more about Canadian history and share it with others. They had collected many old items and needed a permanent place to keep them.
The WCHSO was formed in 1898. Before opening the museum, they wrote papers about Ottawa's history. They also organized two special shows called Loan Exhibitions.
- The first show was in 1899. It featured old pictures and drawings of Ottawa and the early Parliament Buildings.
- The second show was in 1906. It displayed what people thought was Samuel de Champlain's astrolabe (a tool used for navigation). This astrolabe is now at the Canadian Museum of History.
On October 25, 1917, the mayor of Ottawa, Harold Fisher, officially opened the museum. The building was used for meetings and to show off historical items.
Moving to a New Home
Many people in Ottawa helped get the first museum building ready. For example, Thomas Ahearn provided appliances, and J.R. Booth fixed the floors.
The museum stayed in the Registry Building from 1917 until 1954. In 1951, the women's group got permission to use the Commissariat Building. They worked hard to get the new building ready for all the museum's items. By 1954, everything had been moved.
From 1982 to 1985, the Commissariat Building was closed for repairs. During this time, the museum moved to Wellington Street temporarily. The Historical Society of Ottawa (HSO) managed the museum until 2003. After that, a special board of directors was created, and the museum became a non-profit charity.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum's main exhibit is called Where Ottawa Begins. It is spread across the second and third floors of the Commissariat Building.
Exploring Ottawa's Past
The second floor of the museum tells the story of the Ottawa area. It shows how European settlers first arrived and how Bytown became the city of Ottawa in 1855.
The third floor continues the story. It looks at how Ottawa grew and what life was like during Victorian times. You can also learn about important events like the assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee and the burning of the Parliament Buildings. The museum also covers Canada's role in big world conflicts.
Special Areas
On the second floor, you'll find the Temporary Gallery and the Community Gallery. These areas often feature changing exhibits.
The third floor also has a special area just for kids called 'A Day in My Life'. It's a fun place for younger visitors to learn.
Gallery
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Commissariat building, shown in an 1834 painting, serves as the Bytown Museum
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View of Rideau Canal & Bytown Museum
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View of Rideau Canal & Bytown Museum
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1906 Loan Exhibition held at the National Art Gallery, Ottawa (Cover of exhibit catalogue; published in 1907)
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See also
