Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum (Montreal) facts for kids
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 on May 24, 1998. It is located in Old Montreal, right by the Saint Lawrence River. This museum is in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The museum teaches visitors about Marguerite Bourgeoys. She was Montreal's very first teacher. She also started the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. Marguerite Bourgeoys lived in the 1600s. The exhibits show her amazing achievements. They also highlight the bravery of the early settlers who built Montreal.
You can also visit the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. The museum is connected to it. This chapel is over 300 years old. It is Montreal's first and oldest chapel for pilgrims.
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What You'll Discover
The Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum and the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel share Montreal's history. They also show its religious art. This art tells the story of the faith of people who lived long ago.
They also teach about the life and work of Marguerite Bourgeoys. She was Montreal's first teacher. She founded the chapel. The goal is to keep her inspiring spirit alive.
The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel is also a place for prayer. People come here to worship and on pilgrimages.
Amazing Collections
The museum's main goal is to protect and share special items. These include sacred objects and artworks. They also have other items that show the religious, social, and educational history of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. Many items are also linked to Marguerite Bourgeoys' life and work.
The museum has a permanent collection. It includes drawings by modern artists. There are also paintings, sculptures, and old books. You can see relics and medals too. Plus, there are many objects related to schools from the past.
The museum also looks after collections from other groups. These include the Sulpicians and the Congrégation de Notre-Dame. The Ministry of Culture and Communications also has items here. These collections feature artworks and objects from the chapel. They also include items about Marguerite Bourgeoys. There are things related to the Congrégation de Notre-Dame. You can also see objects about teaching art. Finally, there are interesting archaeological finds.
Exploring the Past: An Archaeological Site
Underneath the main part of the chapel, called the nave, is an archaeological site. You can get to it through the crypt. This site holds surprising discoveries.
In 1996 and 1997, archaeologists dug here. They found the remains of Montreal's first stone chapel. Marguerite Bourgeoys founded this chapel in 1675. Its foundations were made of fieldstone. They are clearly outlined. Close by, they found even older sites. These were used by First Nations people. They are among 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. This award recognized the museum's growth and new ideas. It was in the category for tourist attractions with fewer than 100,000 visitors. The museum was praised for its many cultural activities. It was also recognized for their high quality and the beauty of the site.
Later, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel won the Phoenix Prize. This award came from the American Society of Travel Writers. It was for the renovations and archaeological research done between 1996 and 1998. This work made the site a very important place for Montreal's history and heritage.