Renowned as the place where the past and present meet and mingle, museums allow people to reflect on the rich historical legacy of a country or culture. Ever unique, stepping inside a museum unveils a world of opportunities as you peek into special artifacts, collectibles, relics, and paintings.
If you would like to explore a museum, we handpicked eight remarkable museums in Canada that should be on your bucket list of adventures, and are considered the best in the country.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Unique in its own right, this museum is considered the only one of its kind in the world to pay tribute to such a topic. Through artwork, movies, and artifacts, visitors can explore various accounts of survival, resistance, and resilience. The museum has eleven galleries, each covering a distinct human rights topic like indigenous perspective, Canadian journeys, and the Holocaust. Each exhibit captivates the interest of people of all ages to contemplate the universal struggle for dignity and equality.
Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
The Museum of Anthropology allows you to immerse yourself in British Columbia’s unique culture and history. Among the most fascinating aspects of this museum is that it pays tribute to the First Nations people from the province known as the Haida. You will get to see totem poles, artifacts, and a special collection of indigenous art, showcased in a state-of-the-art building with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of the area.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Located at the Halifax Seaport, where millions of immigrants arrived in Canada by ship from 1928 to 1971, it offers an intimate glimpse into the immigration experience. Through compelling first-person stories, artifacts, and photos, several exhibits tell the story of how immigrants arrived in Canada and shaped the country’s multicultural demographic.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario
Considered Canada’s largest museum, the Royal Ontario Museum, also known as the ROM, has a compelling architectural structure that looks like a massive crystal embedded into a limestone building. With an enormous collection of more than 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens across 40 galleries and exhibition spaces, this museum is a must-visit. Here, you will come across unique Egyptian artifacts, indigenous artwork, and dinosaurs, tracing the rise and fall of civilization.
Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, Alberta
The Royal Alberta Museum is one of the largest in Western Canada. It has over 419,000 square feet of space with galleries highlighting the province’s unique natural, cultural, and human history. The museum has several galleries, including one especially dedicated to the contemporary First Nations and Métis communities. You will get to see tools from people who lived in Alberta over 10,000 years ago, and you can also explore the Bug Gallery, which features a collection of spiders, insects, and other invertebrates from the region.
Remai Modern, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Remai is one of Canada’s newest museums. It features a unique collection of modern and contemporary art, comprising over 8,000 artworks that showcase art from 1900 to our present day. Each season, the museum offers a series of rotating exhibits showcasing unique Canadian and international artists. Don’t forget to check out the museum’s unique Hearth restaurant, known for its focus on local regional cuisine.
Pointe-à-Callière Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, Montreal, Quebec
This one-of-a-kind museum is considered the birthplace of Montreal. Through compelling exhibits, it focuses on centuries of history, from the time of the first nations to the present day, where it showcases impressive underground archaeological remains. It also has exhibits showcasing temporary national and international artifacts and includes several cultural activities to delight the young and old.
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario
Located in the country’s capital, the Canadian Museum of Nature has a series of world-class galleries with life-sized models of dinosaurs and other species. Through compelling exhibits, it presents the iconic Canadian wildlife scene with a collection of over 14.6 million specimens from the natural world. Once there, you will get to see iconic Canadian wildlife like grizzlies and bison and learn about Canada’s rapidly changing arctic.
David Messiha | Staff Writer
