McCord Stewart Museum

Montréal, Québec

Type: Museum/Gallery
Address: 690 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H3A 1E9, Canada
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Hours: Monday : closed, Tuesday : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday : 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 514-861-6701

A fixture in the heart of the city for over 100 years, the McCord Stewart Museum sheds light on life in Montreal, both past and present. It bears witness to the history, vitality, creativity and diversity of the communities that make up the city. In keeping with its commitment to decolonization and sustainable development, it creates exhibitions and educational, cultural and community-engagement activities that look at social history and contemporary issues through a critical and inclusive lens. The Museum’s Archives, Documentary Art, Dress, Fashion and Textiles, Indigenous Cultures, Material Culture and Photography collections, containing 2.5 million images, objects, documents and works of art, position it as the custodian of a remarkable historical heritage and one of North America’s leading museums.

Fun Facts

The Museum is linked to Houdini’s death. In October 1926, the famous magician Harry Houdini visited the building where the McCord Stewart Museum is now located. At the time, it was the McGill University Student Association that was housed there. Houdini met a student there, a talented draftsman, whom he invited to come to his dressing room at the Princess Theater the next day to have his portrait done. The student shows up accompanied by another student. The latter challenged Houdini to a series of punches in the stomach, a challenge that Houdini often made in performance. The punches went off before Houdini could prepare himself. Nine days later, the magician died of peritonitis.