Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum (Montreal) facts for kids
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| Established | May 24, 1998 |
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| Location | 400, rue Saint-Paul Est Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1H4 |
The Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum (French: Musée Marguerite Bourgeoys) opened its doors on May 24, 1998. It is located right by the Saint Lawrence River in the old part of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
This museum tells the amazing story of Marguerite Bourgeoys. She was Montreal's very first teacher and started the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel way back in the 1600s. The exhibits show how brave the early settlers were when they built Montreal.
You can also visit the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, which is connected to the museum. This chapel is over 300 years old and was Montreal's first and oldest place for pilgrimages.
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What You'll Discover
The Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum and the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel help us learn about Montreal's history. They also show us beautiful religious art from the past.
They share the life and work of Marguerite Bourgeoys. She was Montreal's first teacher and the founder of the chapel. The museum wants to keep her inspiring spirit alive.
The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel is also a special place. People go there to pray, worship, and visit as part of a pilgrimage.
Museum Collections
The museum's main goal is to keep, study, and show important items. These include sacred objects, artworks, and other things. They tell the story of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and its religious, social, and educational history.
The museum also has many items connected to Marguerite Bourgeoys' life and work. The permanent collection includes drawings, paintings, and sculptures. You can also see old books, special relics, and medals. There are also many objects related to early schools.
The museum also looks after collections from other groups. These include artworks and objects from the chapel itself. There are also items about Marguerite Bourgeoys and the Congrégation de Notre-Dame. Some items show how art was taught long ago. The museum also has interesting archaeological finds.
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Marguerite Bourgeoys
by Pierre Le Ber, 1700 -
Inside the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum
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Another view inside the museum
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A guide at the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum
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The Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum
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Outside view of the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum
Exploring the Archaeological Site
Underneath the main part of the chapel, called the nave, you can find an amazing archaeological site. You get there through the crypt, which is like an underground room.
In 1996 and 1997, archaeologists made exciting discoveries here. They found the remains of Montreal's very first stone chapel. Marguerite Bourgeoys started building this chapel in 1675. Its stone foundations are clearly visible.
Close by, they also found traces of First Nations sites. These are some of the oldest found in Old Montreal.
Awards and Recognition
In 2002, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum received important awards. First, Tourism Montreal gave it the Prix Ulysse award. This award recognized the museum's growth and new ideas. It was for tourist attractions with fewer than 100,000 visitors.
The museum was praised for its many cultural activities and their high quality. People also loved the beauty of the museum's location.
Later, the museum and chapel received the special Phoenix Prize. This award came from the American Society of Travel Writers. It was given for the renovations and archaeological research done between 1996 and 1998. These efforts made the site a very important place for Montreal's history and heritage.
