Looking to take advantage of your available time before another lengthy week of school or work commences again? Why not pay a visit to a museum? Exploring museums is remarkable as it allows you to gain knowledge, unwind, absorb a particular culture, and be entertained all at once. There’s nothing quite like strolling through the corridors of an exquisite museum, surrounded by historical objects and exquisite artwork that span hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Check out these incredible museums in Canada.
Fascinating Museums in Canada
You can embark on a journey through time, delving into ingenuity or enhancing your understanding of the universe within a few hours. Canada boasts over 2,000 museums, each with its own unique narrative. We have curated a selection of the top 15 museums, captivating countless visitors with their impressive exhibits and diverse collections year after year. Presented here in a west-to-east manner.
1. Dawson City Museum
Located within the magnificently restored Old Territorial Administration Building, the Dawson City Museum is an ideal destination to delve into the history of Dawson, the Gold Rush, and the Klondike. Through our collections, displays, research libraries, and interpretive programs, the Dawson City Museum offers you the opportunity to explore the connection between the Klondike and your own world. Uncover the natural history of the Klondike Gold Fields. Discover the rich heritage of the first inhabitants and early adventurers in Yukon. Experience the Gold Rush alongside stampers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, and demimonde!
Location: Old Territorial Administration Building at 595 Fifth Avenue. Contact: 867-993-5291 Website
2. Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum Corporation stands as one of the most significant cultural assets in Canada. Established in 1886, and the archives established in 1894, these two institutions merged in 2003 to create the shared provincial museum and archives of British Columbia. This institution collects artifacts, documents, and specimens showcasing the natural and human history of British Columbia, safeguarding them for the future and sharing them with the global community.
Location: 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 9W2 Contact: 250-356-7226 Website
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3. The Museum of Anthropology
MOA comprises approximately 50,000 pieces from nearly every region of the world, and an additional 535,000 archaeological objects are stored in the Laboratory of Archaeology. MOA is famous for its extensive collections on the Northwest Coast, including Bill Reid’s best collection of works. About half of the assortment consists of creations from Asia and Oceania, while the Arctic, Latin America, and Europe represent other notable holdings. The world textile collection at MOA is the largest in Western Canada, and the European ceramic ware collection is one of the finest in the country.
Location: 6393 NW Marine Drive Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2Contact: 604-822-5087Website
4. Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
The Royal Tyrrell Museum is the solitary museum in Canada exclusively dedicated to the study of paleontology. In addition to hosting one of the primary exhibitions of dinosaurs worldwide, the Museum offers a wide array of innovative, enjoyable, and educational programs that bring prehistoric history to life.
Location: Highway 838 Midland Provincial Park Drumheller, Alberta Canada T0J 0Y0Contact: 1-888-440-4240Website
5. The Manitoba Museum
The Manitoba Museum is the primary nonprofit heritage and science center in the province. They are renowned for their vibrant portrayal of the diverse and colorful history of Manitoba, Planetarium presentations, and displays at the Science Gallery. The museum’s collections reflect the cultural legacy of Manitoba and other regions of the world. Its nine galleries delve into the interconnections between people and their surroundings. Embark on a journey spanning millions of years through Manitoba’s vast and variegated landscapes, from the icy Arctic shoreline to the desolate prairies, from north to south, and beyond.
Location: 190 Rupert AvenueContact: (204) 956-2830Website
6. Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum of Human Rights (CMHR) is the inaugural museum solely dedicated to the advancement, commemoration, and future of human rights. Their aim is to establish not only a national hub for learning and exploring human rights, but also a new era of global leadership in this field. By fostering impactful encounters with human rights, Canadians and international visitors alike will engage in an immersive and collaborative experience that provides inspiration and tools to enhance the lives of others.
Location: 85 Israel Asper Way Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0L5Contact: 204-289-2000Website
7. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum fosters an appreciation of the natural history and cultures of Saskatchewan, both past and present. It conveys this appreciation in a culturally and scientifically nuanced manner for educational and recreational purposes through various media, especially exhibits and publications. The primary methods of understanding and communication employed by the museum include collecting, preserving, and researching relevant material evidence of human and natural history.
Location: 2445 Albert Street Regina, SK S4P 4W7Contact: 306-787-2815Website
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8. The Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum was established in 1914 and showcases art, heritage, and nature from around the globe and across various eras. Ranked among the top ten cultural institutions in North America, it is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum, boasting a top-notch collection of 13 million artworks, cultural artifacts, and natural history specimens exhibited in 40 galleries and display areas.
Location: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6Contact: 416-586-8000Website
9. Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Museum of Ontario (AGO) is one of the main art museums in North America, located in Toronto, which is the largest city in Canada with a population of 5.9 million. The collection of the AGO, consisting of approximately 95,000 artworks, ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art like Untilled by Pierre Hughey to European masterpieces like the Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens; from the extensive collection by the Group of Seven to works by established and emerging Canadian Indigenous artists; with a collection of photographs that traces the influence of the medium with a profound impact.
Location: 317 Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario M5T 1G4Contact: 416 979 6648Official Website
10. The War Museum of Canada
The War Museum of Canada is a national museum of military history in Canada and one of the most esteemed museums in the world for the study and comprehension of armed conflicts. The museum’s collections are among the finest military collections in the world and include unique vehicles, artillery, uniforms, awards, personal memoirs, and 14,000 works in the Beaverbrook War Art Collection.
Location: 1 Vimy Place Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8Contact: 1-800-555-5621Official Website
11. The Museum of History in Canada
The Canadian Museum of History is one of the eldest museums in the country tracing its origin to 1856. It is also the most visited in Canada and has 1,2 million visitors per year. Why are so many people stopping by? The four million items in the Gatineau Museum can tell the past of the country and the world, beginning 20,000 years ago. Discover Canada’s Pacific First Nations’ history, customs, and traditions in a stunning location overlooking the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill.
Location: 100 Laurier Street Gatineau, QC K1A 0M8Contact: 1-800-555-5621Website
12. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Put on your small beret, polish your goatee and attend the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to see some of its 41,000 works. It is an art museum in the broadest sense of the word, all represented by accepted fine arts, music, film, arts, and culture. In just a few hours of pursuing you can see a medieval glass vase, Rembrandt’s painting, and distinctive contemporary furnishings. No wonder it’s Canada’s most renowned art museum.
Location: 1380 Sherbrooke Street West Jean-Noël Desmarais PavilionContact:(514) 285-2000Website
13. Musée de la Civilisation
The Musée de la Civilization of Quebec City addresses the evolution of our society by accumulating and rebuilding itself, a mix of old and new structures and contemporary design. There are exhibits on the Aboriginal people of Quebec, the history and culture of the province and a plethora of touring exhibits encompassing the evolution of global civilization. Over half a million items and artefacts make sure that no two visits are identical.
Location: 85, Rue Dalhousie Quebec City (Québec) G1K 8A2 CanadaContact: 1 866 710-8031
14. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
Every visit to Halifax must include a stop at the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21. One million people have gone through Pier 21 on their way to or from Canada, and one fifth of Canadians have a personal connection to this National Historic Site. Search the records of ships in the Immigration Database, see the mixture of hope and despair in the eyes of asylum seekers and troops leaving for war or coming home, and learn how an immigrant country came into being.
Location: 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax NS B3H 4P7Contact: 1-855-526-4721Website
15. The Rooms
The provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador are wealthy and different in history. The rooms are where the story meets. Constructed on the site of a fortress dating from the 18th century, this facility houses a provincial art gallery, records, and museum. Under one roof, art and artifacts, old records, social and cultural treasures— all the attributes that made Newfoundland what it is. Learn about traditional boat construction, tundra animal life, and military history.
Location: The Rooms, 9 Bonaventure Avenue, P.O. Box 1800, Station CContact: 709-757-8000Website
Visiting a museum, if planned correctly, can be like stepping back in time into the shoes of our forefathers, to be a part of their struggles, to feel kinship to the creatures who roamed this earth long before us, to ponder over the mysteries of the cosmos and to admire the spectacular art that our fellow humans can create. We hope that the list motivates you to take that well-earned leave and hop off to the country of reindeers and maple syrup to scratch that inquisitive itch of yours. Book your trip with Fred and Fuzzys and have an amazing time exploring the museums in Canada.
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