Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa (must see)

The Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum in Ottawa. Built between 1905 and 1911, the museum is housed in a beautiful building that looks like a castle. Its collections highlight all aspects of the intersection between human society and nature, from gardening to gene-splicing.

Officially known as the Victoria Memorial Museum Building, the Canadian Museum of Nature stands on McLeod Street in Ottawa, and represents both a national monument and a landmark.

Throughout its history, the Museum's building has been a residing place of several notable tenants. In 1916, it served as an emergency headquarters for the Canadian government when the Parliament Buildings were destroyed by a great fire. From 1916 to 1919, the affairs of the government were run from this site until the new Parliament building was completed in 1922. In 1919, after the death of the former prime minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, his body was laid in the auditorium.

Three major museums stemmed from this castle. However, since 1988, it has been exclusively accommodating the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Designed by architect David Ewart, this enormous castle-like stone edifice represents a marvelous example of early 20th-century architecture in Ottawa. David Ewart created several similar buildings in the city. Three hundred skilled stonemasons were brought from Scotland specially for this project, the architectural style of which is sometimes described as Scottish baronial. Ewart, who went to Britain to study the architecture of Hampton Court and Windsor Castle, had incorporated their designs in this castle.

Unfortunately, the tall tower sited in front of the building had to be taken down in 1915 due to a concern that its foundation could not support the weight. A major renovation of the building commenced in 2004 and lasted until 2010. A lightweight glass "lantern" took the place of the heavy tower, removed in 1915. The entire building was closed on 26 April 2010 for final changes; the newly renovated museum re-opened its doors on 22 May 2010.

There are roughly ten million specimens of animals, plants and minerals displayed in the Museum of Nature, which are stored there not only for exhibition purposes but also as a sort of scientific yardstick against which all the country's biological and mineralogical research is measured.

In 1841, Queen Victoria issued a grant of £1500 for the "creation of the Geological and Natural History Survey of the Province of Canada." Since then, the institution has garnered a wide range of specimens on virtually every aspect of Canada's natural sciences.

The museum boasts a rich fossil gallery, featuring fossils of the early animals. Its main emphasis is laid upon the extinction of dinosaurs and the ensued emergence of mammals. There are a number of complete skeletons of dinosaurs on display.

Most galleries are fitted with small theatres that demonstrate short, 5 to 10 minute, films about the gallery so as to give visitors an idea what's inside.

Why You Should Visit:
Enjoyable and entertaining for all ages – there is something to stimulate every sense and keep everyone engaged.
A restaurant, cloakroom, gift shop, parking and picnic areas are also available.

Tip:
If you would prefer to only visit the special exhibition and not pay to see the permanent galleries, consider visiting on a Thursday evening.
General admission is free on Thursdays from 5-8 pm (the fee for the special exhibition would still apply).