Ottawa is home to seven of Canada’s nine national museums, and another 11 museums via the Ottawa Museum Network. But what other museum-like experiences exist in Canada’s capital region? And what wonders do they hold?
From galleries to guided tours, sometimes, the most interesting experiences don’t top the usual lists…
Step inside the Royal Canadian Mint’s historic, castle-like headquarters in downtown Ottawa. Each 45-minute guided tour delivers a behind-the-scenes look at Canadian coin-making and production.
See Olympic medals, hold a solid-gold bar, learn about the world’s first million-dollar coin and more. And when you’re done? Visit the boutique to discover a wide range of commemorative coin sets and Canadian souvenirs. Book your tour in advance!
The newly expanded Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), neighbouring the Rideau Centre along Mackenzie King Bridge, holds local, national and international art. Check out The Firestone Collection of Canadian Art (FCCA), containing approximately 1,600 works by influential Canadian artists.
The OAG also holds creative workshops and speaker events, and has a great gift shop selling locally made goods and regional art. The best part? It’s always free! See what’s going on.
The Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame is your time machine through Ottawa’s athletic past. Visit the physical hall at Ottawa City Hall and explore artifacts, photographs, memorabilia and plaques honouring more than 270 inductees. These include iconic Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and basketball inventor James Naismith.
No trip to downtown Ottawa is complete without visiting Canada’s architecturally astonishing Parliament Buildings. Enjoy a free tour of several locations including the House of Commons Chamber and nearby Senate of Canada Building, Ottawa’s historic train station.
Tours are available year-round, though subject to Parliamentary activity. All participants must go through a security screening. Reserve your tickets in advance.
A museum about the economy? It’s cooler than you think. (And free!) The Bank of Canada Museum, downtown Ottawa at the corner of Bank and Wellington, uses state-of-the art gamification and technology to put visitors at the heart of Canada’s economic system.
Steps from the Parliament of Canada, the museum is a great place to spend an hour in between outdoor sightseeing. Bonus: kids love it because it looks like a spaceship inside. Talk about fun you can bank on!
Experience the artist-run, avant-garde SAW Gallery, a unique, alternative space for unconventional art in downtown Ottawa. With a range of works and projects on display, the gallery pushes the envelope in terms of socially and politically engaged art.
Its concert venue, Club SAW, is one of the core organs, if not the heart, of Ottawa’s indie music scene. Up-and-coming artists from all over the world play on the recently renovated stage. See who’s on the bill.
Want to go to prison? Take a guided tour of the Ottawa Jail Hostel, originally known as the Carleton County Gaol. Built in 1862, the jail was once home to some of Canada’s most notorious convicts before turning into a hostel fifty years ago.
Tours run Thursday through Saturday at select times in both English and French, and private tours are available upon request. Book online.
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