List of museums in Ottawa
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
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 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 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 |