Museum, Montreal

There are a lot of museums in Montreal. We were looking for a museum that would give us a concise history with not a lot of "excess" stuf. The Montreal History Centre offers jus that-i has 3 floors, but the first floor is the history of the Montreal, from the first colonists right up to today. They have some exhibits, but its more reading and pictures. It took us about 2 hours or so to go through the first floor, reading everything. The second and third floors were more contemporary and temporary exhibits. When we went, there was an exhibit done about different goods, appliances, etc that were used in homemaking in Montreal throughout the ages, while the third floor was photography of the city. We really just walked through those because we had just went for the history really.
Overall it took us about 3 hours or so in the museum. I'm not sure if they offer guided tours, but I doubt it so you're free to wander as you please. It didn't get too crowded, and the tickets were cheaper than most.

1 more image

Your visit here starts with a 16 minute film that gives an overview of the history of Montreal from the ice age to present day. From there, you head downstairs for a self guided tour through the old foundations of the buildings, the museum is built on the site where the original colony began back in the 1600s. Although the displays were interesting, I thought they could route patrons a little better as I seemed to be constantly doubling back through the same exhibits and missing others. Make sure you grab a map at the entrance, my husband had our copy and at some point I lost him, I finally found him when I worked my way up to the upper floors and spotted him on a lower floor.

2 more images

This dramatically contemporary building stands in stark contrast to its purpose within. This is the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, also known as Pointe-à-Callière.

I have to admit that I often pass on museums when I travel. They often take too long to see properly and I feel like they remove me from the place I am visiting. This, however, is a little different.

There is, of course, a broad array of beautifully crafted displays for artifacts but the best part was the "Where Montréal Was Born" exhibit. This is actually an excavation of the birthplace of Montreal, including the foundations of original buildings, its first public square, the first Catholic cemetary and best of all the canalized river that became a collector sewer. And better yet, you see this by descending far below the present day streets where daylight hasn't been seen in hundreds of years.

Very interesting museum located right in the Vieux Montreal which present archaeological digs done below old buildings.
There is a Catholic cemetary, the first wastewater pumping station in Montreal, exhibits and shop.

Pointe-a-Calliere or the Museum of Archaeology and History definitely falls in the MUST SEE category! It offers are lot of interactive and fascinating exhibits for the public. Cost for an adult is $10 and that includes a free 30 minute show of how Montreal came about. At the time I was there, the special exhibit was the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History is one hell of an archaetectual feat, the building is amazing. When you first enter, you will be instructed to enter an auditorium which features a 16 minute multimedia show. The auditorium stands above exposed ruins of the earlier city. After the show, you will wind your way on a self-guided tour beneath the streets of Montreal until you find yourself across the street in the former Custom House. Upstairs, there's an outdoor terrace with fantastic views of the Old Port. Check out the website.

This is probably the most well-know museum of Montreal.

It's very big and the expositions there are always very nice I find.

there is always a few expositions going at the same time, so you can come quite often and find new stuff.

The store sells cheap prints, I find.
Go a "Dali" there.
:)

They also have packages involving hotels and stuff.

The Chateau Ramezay opened in 1895 as a museum (which makes it the oldest private history museum in Quebec) and its current collection features over 30,000 items that shed light on the history of Montreal and the province of Quebec.

The building dates to the 18th century and was originally built as a chateau for Montreal's governor at the time, Claude de Ramezay.

The museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily from June 1 to September 30 and Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am - 4:30 pm from October 1 - May 30.

Admission is $7/adults.