AWESOME OTTAWA MOUSEUMS – WHAT NOT to MISS AND WHY

Ottawa is a city full of museums. Like the Smithsonian in Washington DC, Canada’s Capital is home to many of the most excellent museums in our country. We’ve been to Ottawa many times. It feels like our second home.

We finally visited the last Ottawa museum. Now we can write (with confidence!) a guide to help visitors choose the best museums to see when they visit the Capital of Canada.

Museums Of Ottawa Canada

Diefenbunker

We had to make at least half a dozen visits before finally visiting the Diefenbunker. The HBO series Chernybol might have had a more significant impact on you than before.

The Diefenbunker, a nuclear bunker, was built during the Cold War. It was named after John Diefenbaker, our Prime Minister at the time.

It was constructed in 1959 during the height of the nuclear crisis. It was used as a bunker by government employees with an important skill. The prime minister was not allowed to bring his family. They had to be ready to survive underground for 30 days without knowing what they would encounter when they exited the bunker after a nuclear attack.

It’s a haunting journey through time. It reminds me of the sets in Chornobyl, with side panels, computers, old radios, and stark meeting rooms. It would be a terrible place to be trapped in.

Canada Aviation And Space Museum

The Aviation and Space Museum is our favorite museum in Ottawa. We love it because we can take a helicopter or a plane from there every time.

It is located in a large hangar. This is where scenic flights depart to take you on a tour of Ottawa. To book them, you can walk to the back wall. The museum is also fascinating, with planes from every era of Canadian aviation on display. The museum is regularly updated with new aircraft. We just saw a vast new jet during our last visit.

Canadian Museum Of Nature

It was another museum we had to visit several times before finally seeing it. We’ve now been back twice! You are immediately struck by the beauty of the architecture as soon as you enter the Canadian Museum of Nature.

This building was the first to house a national museum in Canada. It was built in 1905 to reflect the Centre Blog of Parliament. The massive façade at the entrance has rotating art displays suspended from the ceiling.

The modern design adds beauty to the historical castle-like stone structure. It is one of the most popular places in Ontario. This museum houses everything you could imagine, from dinosaurs to butterflies to our favorite, the Canada Goose Arctic Gallery.

Canadian Museum Of History

This building, located across the river in Gatineau, is truly remarkable. This is the ideal spot to capture a postcard of the Parliament buildings.

Upon entering the building, the Grand Hall greets you with an impressive display of totem poles and native architecture from the West Coast of Canada.

The interactive Canadian history hall takes you through Canada’s history. There are also many locations outside and inside the building that can be used to capture the unique architecture and design.

Canadian War Museum

This is authentic. How do you know that? This is because soldiers visited the museum simultaneously as we did. It must have been spot on!

You will find fascinating exhibits that detail Canada’s war efforts. Some displays recall Canada’s Cold War, WWI, WWII, and early wars between the English, Aboriginal Peoples, and French. Memorial Hall is a place to reflect, and you can visit the grave of an Unknown Soldier.

National Gallery Of Canada

The National Gallery is my favorite. Maman is always a highlight of our trips to Ottawa. Even if we don’t go inside, Maman always catches our attention.

Many permanent and rotating displays exist, but our favorite is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. It’s almost as if you’re in a cathedral with 20 speakers that play music.

The foyer has a stunning glass ceiling, and it is well worth walking around the museum to see the most essential Canadian art exhibit.

Bytown Museum

This tiny museum is only sometimes visited in Ottawa. It is located right on the canal and displays the rich history of Ottawa (formerly Bytown).

You can stroll through the three stories and see the history of the Ottawa Canal, the war efforts of Ottawaans, and the local indigenous history. Walking through the cafe, you can also see the vault at the back.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier Historic Display

It doesn’t matter if you visit in the summer, winter, spring, or fall; it is worth stopping by the Chateau Laurier to escape the heat and cold. To view photographs documenting the history of Ottawa, you can walk to the back of Chateau Laurier while you’re there.

Please find out about the Titanic’s connection to Ottawa and how Winston Churchill spent his time there. Some great photos are available from the beginning of the 20th Century.