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Canadian Museum of Civilization – The Grand Hall and The First Peoples Hall

Of all the museums I had the chance to visit in the National Capital Region, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is probably my favourite.

Canada’s national museum of human history is located in Hull, Quebec, directly across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. The location itself is very scenic: the Museum overlooks the River and offers great views on Ottawa’s downtown core and main landmarks, including the Locks, the Parliament, Château Laurier and Nepean Point.

The Museum focuses on Canadian history, its people and the cultural diversity. The permanent galleries explore Canada’s 20,000 years of human history, and a program of special exhibitions expands on Canadian themes and explore other cultures and civilizations, past and present.

Needless to say, there is a lot to see and the Museum is huge.

This time, we started with the Children’s Museum nested inside the Museum of Civilization. Designed for children, it gives them the opportunity to “travel the world” and explore various cultures though props, costumes, cultural artifacts, etc. Kids are free to roam around and play with the many toys from all over the world—it’s really cool actually!

Then we then the Grand Hall, on the building’s first level. This is an architectural masterpiece that features a wall of windows framing the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill.

The Grand Hall is said to be the largest indoor display of totem poles in the world: a dozen towering totem poles and recreations of six Pacific Coast Aboriginal house facades are connected by a boardwalk.

We finished with the First Peoples’ Hall, a permanent exhibition that narrates the history and accomplishments of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples from their original habitation of North America to the present day. It explores the diversity of the First Peoples, their interactions with the land, and their ongoing contributions to society.

As a new Canadian, I always learning something when I explore this museum—give it a try if you are in the area!

Outside the Museum of Civilizations
Outside the Museum of Civilizations
The Grand Hall
The Grand Hall
Children's Museum
Children’s Museum
Children's Museum
Children’s Museum
Children's Museum
Children’s Museum
Children's Museum
Children’s Museum
Children's Museum
Children’s Museum
Mark Exploring the Grand Hall
Mark Exploring the Grand Hall
Montreal Canadiens Hockey Player
Montreal Canadiens Hockey Player
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, Bill Reid's largest sculpture
The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, Bill Reid’s largest sculpture
Central Coast Housefront
Central Coast Housefront
Central Coast Housefront
Central Coast Housefront
Nuxalk Housefront
Nuxalk Housefront
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
 Moccasins
Moccasins
First Peoples Hall
First Peoples Hall
First Nations Art
First Nations Art
First Peoples Hall
First Peoples Hall
Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Hunting Buffalos
Hunting Buffalo
Hudson's Bay Point Blanket
Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket
First Nations Art
Self-Portrait Outside the Museum
Self-Portrait Outside the Museum
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Zhu

French woman in English Canada.

Exploring the world with my camera since 1999, translating sentences for a living, writing stories that may or may not get attention.

Firm believer that nobody is normal... and it’s better this way.

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