The Bytown Museum explores the stories of an evolving city and its residents from the early days of Bytown to present-day Ottawa, while being uniquely situated on a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site!
Located at the Ottawa locks on the Rideau Canal, the Bytown Museum offers fantastic views and natural surroundings, together with exciting and diverse activities and exhibitions, bridging history and community in an unforgettable setting.
By Robin Treleaven (Ottawa)
The Bytown Museum is the former Commissariat Building, used for storing important materials during the construction of the Rideau Canal, and now commemorates the history of Ottawa. I love this spot because of the museum itself, which always has fascinating exhibits, but also because of the geographical location of the building. It is located right next to the locks of the Rideau Canal where they empty into the Ottawa River, or Kichi Sibi. This is a central spot in Ottawa where you can also see important landmarks such as the Chateau Laurier, Major’s Hill Park, and the Parliament buildings. This location evokes many eras of Ottawa’s history, from the hundreds of years of Indigenous history, to more modern times.
