List of museums in Ottawa facts for kids

The City of Ottawa and the surrounding National Capital Region have an abundance of museums and galleries. Museums range from large national museum with international notoriety, to small galleries and living museums.

National Museums

Museum	Image	Location	Established	Type	Notes	Ref
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum		Experimental Farm	1983	Agricultural	Canada's preeminent agriculture museum, demonstrating advances in farming science and technology
Canada Aviation and Space Museum		Rockcliffe Park	1982	Aviation	Canada's national aviation and space museum, with the most extensive aviation collection in Canada
Canada Science and Technology Museum		St. Laurent	1967	Science	Canada's national science museum, displaying the technological and scientific history of Canada
Canadian Children's Museum		Hull	1989	Children's	Canada's largest exhibition centre designed specifically for children
Canadian Museum of History		Hull	1856	History	Canada's national history museum, featuring a large collection, study, and preserve of materials that illuminate the human history of Canada
Canadian Museum of Nature		Centretown	1968	Nature	Canada's national natural history and natural sciences museum
Canadian War Museum		LeBreton Flats	1942	Military	Canada's national museum of military history
National Arts Centre		Centretown	1965	Art	Canada's centre for the performing arts
National Gallery of Canada		Lower Town	1880	Art	Canada's national art museum and one of the largest art museums in North America

Other Museums & Galleries

Museum	Image	Location	Type	Notes	Ref
Atrium Gallery		Centrepointe	Art	Works of local and regional artists, owned and operated by the City of Ottawa
Bank of Canada Museum		Centretown	Currency	National Currency Collection
Billings Estate Museum		Alta Vista	History	Historic house from 1828 home of early settler, costumed guides discuss city and region's history
Bytown Museum		Centretown	History	City's early history and building of the Rideau Canal
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Museum		Centretown	Military	Regimental history and artefacts, located in Cartier Square Drill Hall
Canada Council for the Arts		Centretown	Art	A Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government
Canadian Photography Institute		Lower Town	Art	Part of the National Gallery
Carleton County Gaol		Centretown	Prison	Site of the last state execution in Canada. Jail tours and hostel
Carleton University Art Gallery		Old South	Art	Gallery at Carleton University
Centrepointe Theatre Gallery		Centrepointe	Art	Works of local and regional artists, operated by the City of Ottawa
City of Ottawa Art Galleries		Centretown	Art	Art galleries owned and operated by the City of Ottawa
Cube Galley		Wellington West	Art	Art Gallery featuring local artists
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum		Cumberland	Living	1920-1930s rural village
Diefenbunker Museum		Carp	Military	Cold War bunker for the Canadian government
Dominion Arboretum		Experimental Farm	Nature	Begun in 1889, the Arboretum covers about 26 hectares (64 acres) of land
Fairfields Heritage House		Richmond	History	An impressive 19th century Gothic Revival farm house
Foyer Gallery		Tanglewood	Art	Artist-run gallery for regional art, located in the Nepean Sportsplex
Gallery 101		Centretown	Art	Artist-run contemporary art centre
Goulbourn Museum		Stittsville	History	19th and 20th century rural township life
Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum		Centretown	Military	History of the regiment
Kanata Civic Art Gallery		Kanata	Art	The gallery exhibits and promotes original works of art
Karsh-Masson Gallery		Centretown	Art	One of the City Hall art galleries
L. A. Pai Gallery		Centretown	Art	Sculptural arts and contemporary jewelry
Laurier House National Historic Site		Centretown	History	Home of two prime ministers
Lee Matasi Gallery		ByWard Market	Art	An Ottawa School of Art Gallery
Library and Archives Canada		Centretown	History	Exhibits from its collections
Mackenzie King Estate		Kingsmere	History	Interactive exhibits and guided tours of faithfully restored artifacts, are open to visitors
Museum of Classical Antiquities		Sandy Hill	History	Museum at Department of Classics and Religious Studies of the University of Ottawa
Nepean Fine Arts League Gallery		Nepean	Art	Artist-run gallery
Nepean Museum		City View	History	Makes accessible and communicates the former municipality of Nepean's history
Osgoode Township Museum		Vernon	History	Archival material and artifacts reflect the history of the Township of Osgoode
Orange Art Gallery		Centretown West	Art	Contemporary art
Ottawa Art Gallery		Centretown	Art	Contemporary and 20th-century art
Ottawa Jewish Archives		Highland Park	History	A collective memory of the Jewish community of Ottawa and National Capital Region
Ottawa Room		Centretown	History	Ottawa’s written heritage for researchers and for residents with a passion for local history
Ottawa School of Art Galleries		ByWard Market	Art	A wide variety of contemporary art as well as openings, artist talks, and events
Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame		Kanata	Sports	Located in the Canadian Tire Centre
Parliament of Canada		Centretown	History	Tours, displays, exhibits
Pinhey's Point Historic Site		Dunrobin	History	19th century estate home, park, and living museum
Rideau Hall		Rockcliffe Park	History	Tours of the official residence of the Governor General of Canada
Royal Canadian Mint		Lower Town	Currency	Interactive guided tours of the Mint's headquarters, founded in 1908
SAW Gallery		Centretown	Art	Artist-run gallery
Shenkman Arts Centre		Orleans	Art	Works of local and regional artists, the Dust Evans Gallery of the Gloucester Pottery School, and the Ottawa School of Art Orléans Campus Gallery
Swords and Ploughshares Museum		Kars	Military	Focus is the Citizen Soldier (the Militiaman and Reservist) at peace and at war, features many military trucks and vehicles
Symmes National Historic Site of Canada		Aylmer	History	The Symmes Inn Museum is a catalyst for promoting local and regional history
Vanier Museopark		Vanier	History	History of Vanier and the Francophone heritage of Ottawa
Watson's Mill		Manotick	History	19th century flour grist mill
Workers' History Museum		Centretown	History	Workers’ history and heritage, in the National Capital Region and Ottawa Valley

Defunct Museums

Museum	Image	Location	Type	Notes	Ref
Canada and the World Pavilion		Rockcliffe Park	Geography	National Film Board of Canada's exhibition space
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography		ByWard Market	Art	Closed in 2009
Canadian Postal Museum		Centretown	Postal	Dissolved in 2012
Canadian Ski Museum		Centretown	Sport	Moved to Mont. Tremblant
Wheelhouse Maritime Museum		Centretown	Transportation	Historical maritime museum