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

The Canada Goose Arctic Gallery 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.

Live creatures are also presented, including owls and a Bald Eagle in the outdoor Owls Rendez-Vous exhibit. In addition, you can wander among beautiful, live butterflies in a tropical oasis, and see beetles, stick insects, cockroaches and more in the Nature Live space.