Dig into history
An expert in creating educational exhibitions and activities for kids – and their parents! – the Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, in Old Montréal, takes us back to Montréal's very beginnings in multimedia and interactive exhibitions that make history come alive.
Downtown's McCord Stewart Museum explores the diversity of Montréal’s history in its main exhibitions, often with interactive elements: brighten your day with radical fashion exhibition Parachute: Subversive Fashion of the ‘80s and trace the cultures of indigenous peoples in the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience.
Step back in time
Montréal's history museums go out of their way to bring history to life for kids of all ages. In Old Montréal, the Château Ramezay - Historic Site and Museum of Montréal opens a portal to 500 years of history, tracing the city's past in its exhibitions (including the original home of Claude de Ramezay, a Governor of Montréal in the 18th century), an engaging multimedia circuit and, in summer, a beautiful French colonial garden.
Kids can climb aboard different types of train cars and peek into railway history at Exporail / The Canadian Railway Museum. And young fashionistas can see Barbie through the decades at the free Barbie Expo downtown (temporarily closed).
Inspire creativity
In the heart of the historic Golden Square Mile in downtown Montréal, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts masterfully curates its collections and hosts a roster of high-quality international exhibitions and workshops for all ages – the museum is also simply a magical place to explore, ranging across multiple floors and incredible buildings.
Discover the natural world
Visit the Biodôme, Planetarium, Biosphère and Montréal Science Centre for fun indoor activities. The Montréal Botanical Garden's outdoor gardens are open throughout the year: spot birds and other wildlife.
Also outdoors, see several of Québec's indigenous animal species in their natural habitats at the conservation-focused Ecomuseum Zoo, including wolves, hawks, caribou and other magnificent creatures at the only zoo on the island of Montréal.
A space engaged in preserving and conserving Earth’s natural resources
The Age of Union Centre, located on Saint-Urbain Street in Montréal’s Mile-X neighbourhood, is an initiative of the non-profit environmental alliance, Age of Union. This multidisciplinary centre is dedicated to the arts and the environment with multiple exhibitions presented, inviting audiences to engage with others and become part of the positive change that the world needs. Featuring two floors of exhibitions, a screening room, permanent immersive installations, a multifunctional event space and an outdoor area with a swimming pool and a garden. The centre is steps from Jean-Talon Market, the Jean-Talon métro and many other attractions in the area.
Mind-bending illusions
The Montréal Museum of Illusions is an entertainment destination unlike any other in the city where guests are immersed in the mind-bending world of illusions. Featuring over 70 visual and educational exhibits including holograms, stereograms, optical illusions and fully immersive rooms designed to trick the mind. Fun for people of all ages, including individual visitors or larger groups, the Museum offers engaging experiences that are innovative and educational.
