9 Montréal museums for history buffs
Tourisme Montréal
Passionate about history? Montréal can take you on a trip to the past. From Old Montréal’s mysterious streets to bustling downtown, the city boasts fantastic history museums, each focusing on different stretches of its rich history.
Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex
The birthplace of Montréal and a national historic and archaeological site, Pointe-à-Callière brings history to life through permanent exhibitions featuring innovative multimedia technologies. It also presents temporary exhibitions on the world's great civilizations, near and far, plus a full calendar of cultural activities for the whole family. See more
Château Ramezay – Historic Site and Museum of Montréal
Québec’s first historical monument and oldest museum gives a look inside Montréal’s earliest days. Château Ramezay, the prestigious 18th century residence originally built for Claude de Ramezay, then Governor of Montréal, was the first building to be recognized as a historical monument, and is the province’s oldest private history museum. Fun fact: Benjamin Franklin was a guest there in 1776. See more
McCord Stewart Museum
The McCord Museum is a museum of social history that celebrates life in Montréal, past and present: its history, its people, its communities. It’s home to one of the largest historical collections in North America, consisting of more than 1.5 million artifacts. Tuesdays and Saturdays, from June to September, the museum organizes guided outdoor tours. See more
Écomusée du fier monde
Housed in a former bathhouse, this unique museum gives visitors an in-depth look at this dynamic working-class neighbourhood and the labour and living conditions of generations of its people, from the Industrial Revolution in Québec to the present day. See more
Maison Saint-Gabriel, Museum and Historic Site
Set amidst farmhouse gardens recreated in the spirit of the 17th century, the Maison Saint-Gabriel is the oldest example of rural habitation in Montréal: purchased by Marguerite Bourgeoys in 1668, this two-storey fieldstone residence once housed the Filles du Roy. It is considered one of the finest examples of traditional Québec architecture existing today. See more
Musée des Hospitalières de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal
A unique museum, which in addition to tracing the history of health and religious heritage, discusses the true origins of Ville-Marie. It explores the beginnings of Montréal and the Hôtel-Dieu, founded by Jeanne Mance; the arrival in 1659 of the Hospitallers of Saint-Joseph, an order of nursing sisters; and the evolution of medicine and nursing. See more
Montreal Holocaust Museum
The Montréal Holocaust Museum tells the story of Jewish communities before, during, and after the Holocaust. Through the life stories of Montréal survivors, visitors are invited to reflect on the destruction engendered by prejudice, racism, and antisemitism. See more
Marguerite Bourgeoys Historic Site
Overlooking the St. Lawrence River, this 300+-year-old chapel, nicknamed the “Sailor’s Church,” sits atop a former First Nations encampment, and was built on the foundations of the first stone chapel erected in 1675. Religious heritage enthusiasts will love its beautiful interior as well as the one-of-a-kind artifacts in its 18th-century crypt, including the tomb of Marguerite Bourgeoys, Montréal’s first teacher. See more