Ottawa’s Story in the Heart of Downtown
The Bytown Museum is Ottawa’s community museum. Housed in the city’s oldest remaining stone building, it is located beside the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and close to Parliament Hill. The museum is a historic treasure and a symbol of Ottawa’s rich heritage. Since its founding in 1917, the Bytown Museum has served as an anchor in the community, preserving Ottawa’s unique story for locals and visitors alike.
A Landmark of Historic and Modern Significance
More than a repository of Ottawa’s past, the Bytown Museum is a testament to the city’s growth and evolution. Standing in Ottawa’s historic core, visitors are invited to explore the stories and values of an evolving city and its residents from time immemorial through the early days as Bytown to present day Ottawa. As the city continues to evolve, the museum offers a meaningful connection to the past and a space to consider the city’s future.
Presenting Local Histories to a Wide Audience
In 2023, the Bytown Museum completed the first phase of its renewal project, updating its permanent gallery content to reflect a broader and more inclusive story of Ottawa. This project introduced expanded narratives, local art, and trilingual content in the museum’s exhibit to better represent and serve Ottawa’s diverse communities. Each year, the museum shares Ottawa’s stories with thousands of national and international visitors, fostering connections that highlight its vital role in the capital’s vibrant tourism sector.
Engaging Experiences, Visitor Services, and Learning Opportunities
The Bytown Museum serves as a cultural hub, offering programming and services for all ages. Exhibitions, family friendly events, guided tours, educational programs, and local partnerships—including collaborations with the Haunted Walk—provide engaging experiences for visitors with a range of interests. Through these offerings, the museum connects community members with Ottawa’s heritage and inspires learning, engagement, and appreciation for the city’s history and its future.
Be a Part of Ottawa’s Ongoing Story
While Ottawa is ever-changing and expanding, the Bytown Museum draws visitors in to pause, to reflect on a shared past, and to consider the city’s vibrant future. It welcomes visitors to experience and explore Ottawa’s history first-hand—in the very building that witnessed the city’s transformation over the course of nearly two centuries. There has never been a better time to experience the Bytown Museum: Ottawa’s community museum in the heart of historic downtown.
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