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Ottawa's Most Interesting Museums


A marathoner could wear out a pair of running shoes sprinting through all the museums in Ottawa. There are dozens of them. So how can a tourist on a tight schedule get the most mileage from Ottawa's architectural monuments, cultural and historical exhibitions? I spent 13 weeks exploring Ottawa's museums one by one at a leisurely pace and have come up seven frontrunners that won't send you into culture-shock. Enjoy and take your time.

 

Parliament

Situated on a bluff above Ottawa, for all of Hull and Quebec to see, is a cluster of three Gothic-style buildings that are every bit as important as they look: the Canadian Parliament. Much of the site is closed to the public, but a guided tour of the Center Block takes just under an hour and is well worth the time. Visitors are shown through the Senate and Legislative Assembly rooms and then are permitted to go up to the Peace Tower. The Peace Tower has a beautiful lookout located just under the giant clock face. The view from this location there is spectacular. and informativeInformative signs make it easy to get a feel for what’s what in the vicinity. Toward Hull a spout of water can be seen. That is the Casino de Hull, the perfect place to send your significant other should they have their fill of culture.Or, a retreat when cultural overload makes you feel like an industrial robot unplugged from its energy source.

At night during the summer is the rather cheesy sound and light show. The history of Canada is told using sound and the Parliament buildings as a giant video screen. It’s a good way to spend an hour on a warm summer night.

Call 1-800-465-1867 or visit www.parl.gc.ca/36/sp-e.htm

copyright Harry Tsai

National Art Gallery

The architect must have been given full reign in designing the National Art Gallery. The building itself is would be worth the visit even if it were not wasn’t filled with magnificent art. Of course the art is magnificent too. Canadian art and the Group of Seven take the center stage, but the collection of European art is also worth the trip. Way down in the confines of the basement is a large collection of Inuit art. The photo gallery (a new medium of art) is also worth a peek, but the Asian collection is an embarrassment to the gallery. The collection is severely limited in geography, range and size. The art gallery may take you a couple days because of its sheer size and diversity, but it's free, so can afford to see it in small doses.

Located at 55 Elgin St. Call 1-800-319-ARTS or visit national.gallery.ca/

Museum of Civilization

The Museum of Civilization is housed in an very unique ultra modern building just across the river in Hull. To tour this museum properly takes at least a full day. Most people are likely to suffer from severe boredom. It will be overwhelming for those who seldom frequent museums and too elementary for those that who do. So pick and chose what you are going to see or do. I highly recommend at least a tour of the Indian village on the bottom floor. The houses are incredible and the exhibits are very informative.

Located at 100 Laurier in Hull. Call 1-800-555-5621
or visit
www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca/cmc/cmceng/welcmeng.html
For the 24-hour information line, call (819) 776-7000.

Copyright Harry Tsai.

Copyright Harry Tsai.

Museum of Contemporary Photography

 

Abstract and small seem to be are the words that best describe the photos displayed in this museum-gallery, although some of the ever-changing displays can be quite fascinating. One such display involved a virtual reality stranger whom you could engage in conversation by using a computer monitor to choose a reply. It was sort of like an interactive chose choose-your-own-adventure. It is possible to get her -- yes I spoke to a virtual woman -- to express amazing insights into your character. The museum is located on the canal side of Chateau Laurier.

Located at 1 Rideau Canal. Call 613-990-8257 or visit cmcp.gallery.ca

National Aviation Museum

A little out of town, but worth the drive or cycle, this museum gives you not only the usual static history so expected in a museum, but also the chance to fly in a few historic planes. Although a bit pricey -- $60 for 15 minutes worth of flight -- it gives you the chance to relive history in a way most museums can't begin to emulate. You have the choice of flying in a the vintage Stearman open cockpit bi-plane, the historic long -serving RCAF two-seater de Havilland Chipmunk, or a less pricey Havilland Beaver floatplane.

Back in the main hanger is an impressive collection of planes, including a number of the world’s "firsts" or "onlys". The flight simulator with its a small bank of seats and a view of three televisions sets arranged to look like an airplane cockpit, allows you to feel what it would be like to land in such places as Singapore, Greenland and Hong Kong’s old international airport. It is realistic enough to trick your senses into believing you are banking as the plane approaches, even though you are sitting in a seat bolted to a concrete floor.

At Aviation Parkway and Rockcliffe Parkway. Call 1-800-463-2038
or visit
www.aviation.nmstc.ca/e-home.htm

Museum of War

The usual monument to World Wars I and II, this museum is interesting but not fascinating unless you are a military history buff. It documents Canada’s brief military involvements from the days of the British to that of its participation in the United Nations' missions.

330 Sussex Drive. Call (819) 776-8600 or visit www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca/

Rideau Hall

Look on at any map of the Rockcliffe area and you will see a huge chunk of land between the Prime Minister’s riverside residence and the rest of Rockcliffe. This is the Governor General's residence otherwise known as Rideau Hall. The gardens are usually open for public wanderings and the residence is often open for tours. On a nice day you may be able to take in a cricket match while waiting for a tour of the residence.

The residence is a massive multipurpose house that is still in use today. Hence the tour is rather limited but still interesting. The grand ballroom is one of the first stops and it makes you wonder why we gave up old-fashioned ballroom dances. The room is wonderfully decorated, the chandelier is magnificent and the whole place smells old- fashioned. The old dining room is decorated to look like a circus tent. Even the walls are even padded to give a tent-like effect. Apparently in the good old days, the dining room doubled as a tennis court and the tent was erected to spruce the place up for dinner.

Located at 1 Sussex Dr. Call (613)-998-7113 or 1-800-465-1867 for more information or visit www.gc.ca

Museum of Contemporary Photography

Abstract and small seem to be are the words that best describe the photos displayed in this museum-gallery, although some of the ever-changing displays can be quite fascinating. One such display involved a virtual reality stranger whom you could engage in conversation by using a computer monitor to choose a reply. It was sort of like an interactive chose choose-your-own-adventure. It is possible to get her -- yes I spoke to a virtual woman -- to express amazing insights into your character. The museum is located on the canal side of Chateau Laurier.

Located at 1 Rideau Canal. Call 613-990-8257 or visit cmcp.gallery.ca

National Aviation Museum

A little out of town, but worth the drive or cycle, this museum gives you not only the usual static history so expected in a museum, but also the chance to fly in a few historic planes. Although a bit pricey -- $60 for 15 minutes worth of flight -- it gives you the chance to relive history in a way most museums can't begin to emulate. You have the choice of flying in a the vintage Stearman open cockpit bi-plane, the historic long -serving RCAF two-seater de Havilland Chipmunk, or a less pricey Havilland Beaver floatplane.

Back in the main hanger is an impressive collection of planes, including a number of the world’s "firsts" or "onlys". The flight simulator with its a small bank of seats and a view of three televisions sets arranged to look like an airplane cockpit, allows you to feel what it would be like to land in such places as Singapore, Greenland and Hong Kong’s old international airport. It is realistic enough to trick your senses into believing you are banking as the plane approaches, even though you are sitting in a seat bolted to a concrete floor.

At Aviation Parkway and Rockcliffe Parkway. Call 1-800-463-2038
or visit
www.aviation.nmstc.ca/e-home.htm

Museum of War

The usual monument to World Wars I and II, this museum is interesting but not fascinating unless you are a military history buff. It documents Canada’s brief military involvements from the days of the British to that of its participation in the United Nations' missions.

330 Sussex Drive. Call (819) 776-8600 or visit www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca/

Rideau Hall

Look on at any map of the Rockcliffe area and you will see a huge chunk of land between the Prime Minister’s riverside residence and the rest of Rockcliffe. This is the Governor General's residence otherwise known as Rideau Hall. The gardens are usually open for public wanderings and the residence is often open for tours. On a nice day you may be able to take in a cricket match while waiting for a tour of the residence.

The residence is a massive multipurpose house that is still in use today. Hence the tour is rather limited but still interesting. The grand ballroom is one of the first stops and it makes you wonder why we gave up old-fashioned ballroom dances. The room is wonderfully decorated, the chandelier is magnificent and the whole place smells old- fashioned. The old dining room is decorated to look like a circus tent. Even the walls are even padded to give a tent-like effect. Apparently in the good old days, the dining room doubled as a tennis court and the tent was erected to spruce the place up for dinner.

Located at 1 Sussex Dr. Call (613)-998-7113 or 1-800-465-1867 for more information or visit www.gc.ca