Bytown Museum

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Located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, the Bytown Museum explores the stories of an evolving city and its residents from its early days as Bytown to present day Ottawa. The Museum is located at the Rideau Canal’s Ottawa locks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, between Parliament Hill and the Fairmont Château Laurier hotel — one of the most picturesque sites in the city.

Bytown Museum admission is free for seniors on Wednesdays – the same day seniors ride free with OC Transpo!

Bytown Museum
1 Canal Lane
Bytown Museum Website

The history of the Bytown Museum begins with the Women’s Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa (WCHSO), founded in 1898. The WCHSO quickly amassed a collection of artifacts relating to the history of Bytown/Ottawa. It became apparent that a museum was required to house this impressive collection and in 1917 the Bytown Museum opened its doors.