Canadian Museum of History Focusing on Indigenous History and Canada
Ottawa Museum Directory / by bkearns / 13 views / New
Canadian Museum of History Focusing on Indigenous History and Canada
Canadian Museum of History Focusing on Indigenous History and Canada.
Located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg, the Canadian Museum of History is Canada’s largest museum of human history. As Canada’s most popular museum, it welcomes visitors to its celebrated complex in the heart of the National Capital Region.
With roots stretching back to 1856, it is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions. Focused on the histories and cultures of what is now Canada, it is a respected centre of museological excellence, both across the country and around the world. The corporation’s overarching mandate is to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the events, experiences, people and objects that reflect and have shaped Canada’s history and identity, while also enhancing their awareness of world history and cultures.
As a Crown corporation under the Museums Act, the Canadian Museum of History also oversees the Canadian War Museum and the Virtual Museum of New France. The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history and one of the world’s most respected museums for the study and understanding of armed conflict. Originally founded in 1880 around a small collection of militia objects, the War Museum collection now includes nearly half a million objects, and is housed in an iconic riverfront building on Ottawa’s historic LeBreton Flats. Launched in 1997 and expanded in 2011, the Virtual Museum of New France offers a comprehensive history of the period, and has become a go-to resource for scholars and the general public.
The Canadian Museum of History facility is also home to the Canadian Children’s Museum, a 500-seat theatre, and the 295-seat CINÉ+ movie theatre featuring a large 3D screen and giant dome. Ongoing exhibitions include the spectacular Grand Hall, the First Peoples Hall, and the Canadian History Hall. The Museum also features temporary exhibitions focusing on Indigenous, Canadian, and world histories and cultures. Many of these temporary exhibitions are developed in collaboration with Indigenous and other communities; others are produced by Canadian or international institutions.
In addition to sharing knowledge physically through travelling exhibitions, educational kits, publications, and lectures, the Museum offers a rich variety of digital content across its websites, including online exhibitions, podcasts, virtual tours, resources for teachers, games, activities, and access to collections and cutting-edge research.
Research activities are undertaken in a wide variety of areas, and in collaboration with communities and partners. Research is primarily concentrated in the areas of Canadian history, Indigenous histories, art, and cultures, archaeology, and cultural expression. In addition to scholarly research, staff conduct fieldwork in partnership with Indigenous and other cultural communities, engage in collaborative community-based projects, and work with institutions both at home and abroad. The Canadian Museum of History has in its care some 4 million items — from archaeological material and cultural belongings, to contemporary works of art and oral histories. The Canadian War Museum houses a further 400,000 items, including 13,500 paintings, sketches and sculptures in the world-famous Beaverbrook Collection of War Art.
In addition to administering the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum, and the Virtual Museum of New France, the Canadian Museum of History manages Digital Museums Canada (DMC) with financial support from the Government of Canada. As the largest investment program of its kind in the country, DMC helps heritage, cultural and Indigenous organizations build digital capacity, while also bringing diverse made-in-Canada stories to the wider world.
Official Website: Canadian Museum of History
- Listing ID: 4070