List of historic places in Ottawa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is a list of historic places in the City of Ottawa, Ontario that are officially recognized for their special history. These places can be important to Canada as a whole, to the province of Ontario, or just to the city of Ottawa.

Cool Historic Places in Ottawa
- Important Buildings and Sites
- Other Notable Historic Places
Images for kids
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Cool Historic Places in Ottawa

Ottawa is full of amazing old buildings and sites that tell stories about Canada's past. Let's explore some of these cool places!

Important Buildings and Sites

Many buildings in Ottawa have played a big part in Canadian history.

Parliament Hill: Where Canada's Laws Are Made

The Langevin Block, part of Parliament Hill.

Parliament Hill is probably the most famous spot in Ottawa. It's where Canada's government works and where laws are created. Imagine all the important decisions made here over the years! It includes several key buildings:

Centre Block: This is the main building with the Peace Tower. It's where the House of Commons and the Senate meet.
East Block: An impressive building with offices for senators and members of parliament.
Library of Parliament: A beautiful, round building filled with books and records, right behind the Centre Block.
West Block: Another important building used for parliamentary offices and meetings.

Rideau Canal: A Historic Waterway

Boats enjoying the historic Rideau Canal.

The Rideau Canal is a super cool waterway that connects Ottawa to Kingston. It was built a long time ago for military reasons, but now it's a popular spot for boating in summer and the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink in winter! It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it's recognized as important to everyone on Earth.

Rideau Hall: Home to the Governor General

Rideau Hall, the official residence.

Rideau Hall is the official home of the Governor General of Canada. This person represents the King or Queen in Canada. It's a beautiful estate with large gardens and many historic buildings. You can even visit some parts of it!

Rideau Hall Visitor Centre: This is where you can start your tour and learn about the history of the estate.
Rideau Hall, Cricket Clubhouse: A historic building used for sports and gatherings on the grounds.
Rideau Hall, Dairy Building: An old building that was once used for dairy farming on the estate.
Rideau Hall, Gasometer: A unique old structure that used to store gas for lighting.
Rideau Hall, Gate Lodge: A small, charming building at the entrance to the grounds.
Rideau Hall, Main Gate: The grand entrance to the Rideau Hall estate.
Rideau Hall, Secondary gates and fences: Other historic entrances and boundaries of the property.

Château Laurier: A Grand Hotel

The grand Château Laurier hotel.

The Château Laurier is a famous and fancy hotel in downtown Ottawa. It looks like a castle and is a landmark right next to the Parliament Buildings and the Rideau Canal. Many important people have stayed there over the years.

Canadian Museum of Nature: A Natural Wonder

The Victoria Memorial Museum Building, home to the Canadian Museum of Nature.

The Victoria Memorial Museum Building is a stunning castle-like building that houses the Canadian Museum of Nature. It's a great place to learn about dinosaurs, animals, and the natural world.

Central Experimental Farm: A Green Oasis

A view of the Central Experimental Farm.

The Central Experimental Farm is a huge green space in the middle of Ottawa. It's a working farm and research centre, but it's also a beautiful park where people can walk, bike, and enjoy nature. It has many historic buildings related to agriculture and science.

CEF, Horticulture Building, No. 74: A building used for plant research and displays.
Cereal Barn: A historic barn used for storing grains.
Cereal Crops Building: Where research on different types of grains happens.
Service Building: A building that supports the farm's operations.
Dairy Technology Annex: Where research on milk and dairy products takes place.
Engineering Research Building: For studies on farm machinery and technology.
Heritage House (Building 54): One of the historic homes on the farm.
Heritage House, No. 60: Another historic house on the farm.
Horticulture Building: A building for studying plants and gardening.
Laboratory Services Building No. 22: A lab for various scientific tests.
Main Dairy Barn: The main barn for the farm's dairy cows.
Main Greenhouse Range: A large area with many greenhouses for growing plants.
Nutrition Building: Where research on food and nutrition happens.
Observatory House: A historic house near the Dominion Observatory.
Photo Equatorial Building: Part of the observatory, used for taking astronomical photos.
Potting Shed: A small building used for gardening tasks.
Seismology Survey Building: Where scientists study earthquakes.
Small Dairy Barn: A smaller barn for dairy operations.
South Azimuth Building: Another building related to the observatory.
Swine Showcase Building No. 91: A building for showing different types of pigs.
William Saunders Building: Named after a famous Canadian entomologist and agriculturalist.

Diefenbunker: A Cold War Secret

The Diefenbunker, a secret Cold War bunker.

The CFS Carp (Diefenbunker) is an amazing underground bunker built during the Cold War to protect government officials in case of a nuclear attack. It's now a museum where you can explore its secret tunnels and learn about this tense time in history.

Royal Canadian Mint: Where Money is Made

The Royal Canadian Mint.

The Royal Canadian Mint is where Canada's coins are made. You can take a tour and see how coins are designed and produced. It's fascinating to see where your pocket money comes from!

Supreme Court of Canada Building: Justice in Action

The Supreme Court of Canada Building.

The Supreme Court of Canada Building is where the highest court in Canada makes important legal decisions. It's a grand building that represents justice and fairness in the country.

Other Notable Historic Places

Ottawa has many other interesting historic buildings and areas.

Old Government Buildings

Building 7; Health Protection Building: This used to be a laboratory for food and drug safety.
Commissariat Building: One of the oldest stone buildings in Ottawa, located near the Rideau Canal.
"N" Division, Stable Building: A historic stable building.
Government Conference Centre: A beautiful old train station that is now used for important meetings.
National Research Council of Canada, Building M-12: A building used for scientific research.
Former Ottawa Teachers' College (Ottawa Normal School): An old school where teachers were trained.
Coach House for Prime Minister's Residence: A building near the Prime Minister's home.
Central Heating Plant: A large building that provides heat to many government buildings.
Statistics Canada - Main Building: The main building for Canada's statistics agency.
Administration Building: A historic office building.
Arc Biotech Building (No. 34): A building used for biotechnology research.
Bank of Montreal: A grand old bank building on Wellington Street.
Bank of Nova Scotia: Another historic bank building.
Bate Building: An old commercial building in downtown Ottawa.
Birks Building: A historic building that once housed a famous jewelry store.
Blackburn Building: A notable building on Sparks Street.
Boathouse: A building for boats.
Booth Building: Another historic building on Sparks Street.
Booth Street Complex, Surveys and Mapping Building: Used for mapping and geological surveys.
Bronson Company Office: An old office building.
Brooke Claxton Building: A government office building.
Bus Shelter; Vincent Massey Park: A historic bus shelter in a park.
Canada's Four Corners Building: A building at a famous intersection.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: A historic bank building.
CBC Building: The building for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Central Chambers: A historic commercial building.
Chemical Radioactive Ores Building: A building for studying radioactive materials.
Commercial Building (13-15 Clarence Street): An old commercial building.
Commercial Building (461-465 Sussex Drive): Another historic commercial building.
Commercial Building (457-459 Sussex Drive): A commercial building in the Byward Market.
Confederation Building: A large government office building.
Connaught Building: A historic building that houses government offices.
Drill Hall: A building used for military training.
East Memorial Building: Part of the Memorial Buildings.
EMR Complex: Fuel Testing Laboratory: A lab for testing fuels.
Energy, Mines and Resources Complex, Ore Dressing Laboratory: A lab for processing ores.
Forintek Building: A building used for forestry research.
Former Archives Building and former War Museum: A historic building that once housed archives and a war museum.
Former Geological Survey of Canada Building: An old building used by geologists.
Former NCC Building (demolished): A building that was once part of the National Capital Commission.
Former Ottawa City Hall: The old city hall building.
Former U.S. Embassy: The historic building that used to be the American embassy.
Geological Survey of Canada Building: Another building for geological research.
Hangar H 11 / VIP Reception Building: A hangar at the airport for VIPs.
Hangar H 14: Another hangar at the airport.
Health Care Centre: A historic health care building.
Hollywood Parade: A historic row of houses.
Hope Building: A building on Sparks Street.
Industrial Minerals and Ceramics: A lab for studying industrial minerals.
Jeanne D'Arc Institute: A historic institute.
Justice Building: A building for legal offices.
La Salle Academy: A historic school building.
Langevin Block: A building on Parliament Hill.
Langevin Block National Historic Site: The historic site of the Langevin Block.
Larocque-Lafortune College: A historic college building.
Lester B. Pearson Building: A building for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs.
Lock Office: An office at the Ottawa Locks.
Machine Shop (#4): A workshop.
MacKay Castle: A historic building on the Rideau Hall grounds.
Maintenance Building: A building for park maintenance.
Mansfield Building: A building on Sussex Drive.
Marshall Building: A building on Metcalfe Street.
May Building: A building on Sussex Drive.
National Press Building: A building where many journalists used to work.
National Research Council Canada Laboratories: Labs for scientific research.
National Research Council of Canada, Building M-20: Another research building.
Office Building (35 George Street): An office building in the Byward Market.
Office Building (17-19 York Street): Another office building.
Official Guest Residence: A residence for official guests.
Ore Dressing Laboratory (550 Booth Street): A lab for processing ores.
Ottawa Electric Railway Company Steam Plant: An old power plant.
Ottawa Hydro Generating Station No. 2: A power generating station.
Pavilion A, B, C, D, E, F, H, I, J, K, L at the Federal Study Centre: Buildings at a study centre.
Physical Metallurgy Laboratory, Building A, B, C, D, E: Labs for studying metals.
Postal Station B: A historic post office.
Prime Minister's Residence: The official home of Canada's Prime Minister.
Public Archives and National Library Building: A building for national records and books.
Public Grounds of the Parliament Buildings National Historic Site: The grounds around Parliament Hill.
Refreshment Stand: A stand at Hog's Back.
Residence: A historic residence.
Revere Hotel: A historic hotel.
Rideau Cottage: A historic cottage.
Rideau Hall and Landscaped Grounds National Historic Site: The historic site of Rideau Hall.
Rochon Residence: A historic house.
Rockcliffe Pavilion: A pavilion in Rockcliffe Park.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters Building: The headquarters for the RCMP.
Saxe Building: A building on Sparks Street.
Scottish Ontario Chambers: A historic commercial building.
Sparrow Building: A building on Sussex Drive.
Stable / Garage Recognized Federal Heritage Building: A historic stable and garage.
Stornoway: The official residence of the Leader of the Opposition.
The Albion Hotel: A historic hotel.
The City Registry Office: Where official records were kept.
The Grey Nuns Mother House: A historic building of a religious order.
The Horticulture Building: A building at Lansdowne Park.
Union Bank Building: A historic bank building.
Union Mission: A historic mission building.
Valade Residence: A historic residence.
VIA Rail Station: The main train station in Ottawa.
Victoria Building: A historic government building.
Wellington Building: A historic building on Wellington Street.
West Memorial Building: Part of the Memorial Buildings.
Willson Carbide Mill: An old industrial mill.

Historic Homes and Churches

The Beggs House: A historic house in North Gower.
Cheney House: A historic house on Bronson Avenue.
Davidson House: A historic house.
The Kelly House: A historic house in North Gower.
Martin House: A historic house in Kars.
Trinity United Church: A historic church in Kars.
Weatherhead House: A historic house in Pierces Corners.
Bryan House: A historic house in Kars.
The Weaver's House: A historic house in Manotick.
Hay House: A historic house in Old Ottawa South.
Saint Brigid's Church: A historic church in the Byward Market area.
Church of St. Alban the Martyr: A historic Anglican church.
Fraser School House: A historic school building.
Fry House: A historic house.
George Sparks House: A historic house in Manotick.
Gilroy Farm: A historic farm.
John R. Booth Residence National Historic Site: The historic home of a famous lumber baron.
Lindsay House: A historic house in Kars.
Manotick United Church: A historic church in Manotick.
Maplelawn: A historic house with beautiful gardens.
Maplelawn & Gardens National Historic Site: The historic site of Maplelawn.
Miller's Oven: A historic building in Manotick.
Monastère du Précieux Sang: A historic monastery.
North Gower Old Town Hall: The old town hall in North Gower.
The Canada Goose Shop: A historic shop in Manotick.
The Eastman House: A historic house in Kars.
The McCulla House: A historic house in Pierces Corners.
The McFadden House: A historic house in Manotick.
The Old Presbyterian Manse: A historic church residence.
Powell House: A historic house in Gloucester.
The Powell House: A historic house in The Glebe.
The Pritchard House: A historic house in Manotick.
The Thomas Craig House: A historic house in North Gower.
The Williams House: A historic house in Manotick.
Toller House: A historic house in Sandy Hill.
St. Louis House: A historic house in Kars.
Burritt House: A historic house in Burritts Rapids.
The (James) Lindsay House: A historic house in Kars.

Historic Districts and Areas

New Edinburgh Heritage Conservation District: A historic neighborhood with many old homes.
Byward Market Heritage Conservation District: A lively historic market area.
Carleton County Court House: The old courthouse.
Carleton County Gaol: The old jail, now a hostel!
Carleton Place Town Hall: The historic town hall of Carleton Place.
Centretown Heritage Conservation District: A historic neighborhood in downtown Ottawa.
First Avenue Public School: A historic school building.
Lisgar Collegiate Institute: A historic high school.
Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District: A historic neighborhood west of the Byward Market.
Marlborough Township Office: A historic township office.
Mutchmor Public School: A historic school.
Sandy Hill West Heritage Conservation District: A historic neighborhood in Sandy Hill.
Wilbrod Street Heritage Conservation District: Another historic area in Sandy Hill.
Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District: A historic residential area known for its large homes and green spaces.
304-312 Queen Elizabeth Driveway: A historic row of houses.
41 York Street: A historic building in the Byward Market.
419-423 Sussex Drive: A historic building on Sussex Drive.
5 Blackburn Avenue: A historic house in Sandy Hill.