Canadian Museum of Nature

Explore the fascinating science related to fossils, mammals, minerals, birds, plate tectonics, Arctic discovery and more in a historic building minutes from Parliament Hill.

At the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, you'll learn about the country's wild spaces—from coast to coast to coast—through exhibits and interactive activities.

The Canada Goose Arctic Gallery immediately immerses you in a chilly atmosphere created by real ice, then shines a light on Indigenous traditions, polar bears, tundra wildflowers and more. In the Water Gallery, you can see an enormous blue whale skeleton, as well as live water creatures, including a spotted turtle and a moon jellyfish. Try to identify woodland songs and learn how to care for injured birds in the Bird Gallery. Explore a life-sized model of a limestone cave, learn how earthquakes happen or build a model volcano in the Earth Gallery. Meet live creatures such as beetles, stick insects, cockroaches and more in the Nature Live space. Then step into a tropical oasis and wander among beautiful, live butterflies.

It's like a trip across the country (and, in some cases, around the world), all in one castle-like building!