Museum of the Central Hospital of the Augustinian Convent of Quebec (Musee des Augustines de l'Hôtel, Quebec City

The Museum of the Central Hospital of the Augustinian Convent in Quebec is located in a renovated 17th-century building that beautifully combines the historical gray stone of Quebec with modern glass and steel elements. The museum houses an impressive collection of 40,000 artifacts from the local Augustinian nunnery, known as the Monastère des Augustines, and its associated hospital. Among the exhibits are a complete historical nun's habit, along with ancient medical devices and other items that provide insight into the rich history of this monastic order.

The Augustinian nuns arrived in Quebec in 1639 and, as skilled nurses, cared for the sick while also encouraging the First Nations people to embrace Christianity.

Founded in 1637 by Duchess Marie-Madeleine de Vignerot, a niece of Cardinal Richelieu, the hospital initially stood in Sillery to serve the colony's healthcare needs. It moved to Quebec City in 1644 due to Iroquois attacks, eventually becoming the first of its kind in Canada and North America, cementing its status as a prominent medical institution.

The three-story wings of the building are supported by vaulted cellars constructed in 1695. In close proximity are the Augustine cemetery, the garden, and the cloister, all surrounded by stone walls. The hospital's chapel, established in 1803, underwent significant renovations, both externally and internally, in later years. In 1936, the building earned recognition as a National Historic Site of Canada.

The Augustinian sisters continued to operate the hospital until 1962, though their numbers had significantly declined compared to the heyday of the convent. Nevertheless, some nuns still reside on the site to this day.

Today, the hospital functions as a teaching institution affiliated with the medical school of Laval University (Université Laval).