# List of museums in Ottawa

The City of Ottawa and the surrounding National Capital Region have an abundance of museums and galleries. Museums range from large national museum with international notoriety, to small galleries and living museums.

## National Museums

| Museum | Location | Established | Type | Notes |
| Canada Agriculture and Food Museum | Experimental Farm | 1983 | Agricultural | Canada's preeminent agriculture museum, demonstrating advances in farming science and technology |
| Canada Aviation and Space Museum | Rockcliffe Park | 1982 | Aviation | Canada's national aviation and space museum, with the most extensive aviation collection in Canada |
| Canada Science and Technology Museum | St. Laurent | 1967 | Science | Canada's national science museum, displaying the technological and scientific history of Canada |
| Canadian Museum of History | Hull | 1856 | History | Canada's national history museum, featuring a large collection, study, and preserve of materials that illuminate the human history of Canada |
| Canadian Museum of Nature | Centretown | 1968 | Nature | Canada's national natural history and natural sciences museum |
| Canadian War Museum | LeBreton Flats | 1942 | Military | Canada's national museum of military history |
| National Arts Centre | Centretown | 1965 | Art | Canada's centre for the performing arts |
| National Gallery of Canada | Lower Town | 1880 | Art | Canada's national art museum and one of the largest art museums in North America |

## Other Museums & Galleries

| Museum | Location | Type | Notes |
| Atrium Gallery | Centrepointe | Art | Works of local and regional artists, owned and operated by the City of Ottawa |
| Bank of Canada Museum | Centretown | Currency | National Currency Collection |
| Billings Estate Museum | Alta Vista | History | Historic house from 1828 home of early settler, costumed guides discuss city and region's history |
| Bytown Museum | Centretown | History | City's early history and building of the Rideau Canal |
| Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Museum | Centretown | Military | Regimental history and artefacts, located in Cartier Square Drill Hall |
| Canada Council for the Arts | Centretown | Art | A Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government |
| Canadian Photography Institute | Lower Town | Art | Part of the National Gallery |
| Carleton County Gaol | Centretown | Prison | Site of the last state execution in Canada. Jail tours and hostel |
| Carleton University Art Gallery | Old South | Art | Gallery at Carleton University |
| Centrepointe Theatre Gallery | Centrepointe | Art | Works of local and regional artists, operated by the City of Ottawa |
| City of Ottawa Art Galleries | Centretown | Art | Art galleries owned and operated by the City of Ottawa |
| Cube Galley | Wellington West | Art | Art Gallery featuring local artists |
| Cumberland Heritage Village Museum | Cumberland | Living | 1920–1930s rural village |
| Diefenbunker Museum | Carp | Military | Cold War bunker for the Canadian government |
| Dominion Arboretum | Experimental Farm | Nature | Begun in 1889, the Arboretum covers about 26 hectares (64 acres) of land |
| Fairfields Heritage House | Richmond | History | A 19th century Gothic Revival farm house |
| Foyer Gallery | Tanglewood | Art | Artist-run gallery for regional art, located in the Nepean Sportsplex |
| Gallery 101 | Centretown | Art | Artist-run contemporary art centre |
| Goulbourn Museum | Stittsville | History | 19th and 20th century rural township life |
| Governor General's Foot Guards Regimental Museum | Centretown | Military | History of the regiment |
| Kanata Civic Art Gallery | Kanata | Art | The gallery exhibits and promotes original works of art |
| Karsh-Masson Gallery | Centretown | Art | One of the City Hall art galleries |
| L. A. Pai Gallery | Centretown | Art | Sculptural arts and contemporary jewelry |
| Laurier House National Historic Site | Centretown | History | Home of two prime ministers |
| Lee Matasi Gallery | ByWard Market | Art | An Ottawa School of Art Gallery |
| Library and Archives Canada | Centretown | History | Exhibits from its collections |
| Mackenzie King Estate | Kingsmere | History | Interactive exhibits and guided tours of faithfully restored artifacts, are open to visitors |
| Museum of Classical Antiquities | Sandy Hill | History | Museum at Department of Classics and Religious Studies of the University of Ottawa |
| Nepean Fine Arts League Gallery | Nepean | Art | Artist-run gallery |
| Nepean Museum | City View | History | Makes accessible and communicates the former municipality of Nepean's history |
| Osgoode Township Museum | Vernon | History | Archival material and artifacts reflect the history of the Township of Osgoode |
| Orange Art Gallery | Centretown West | Art | Contemporary art |
| Ottawa Art Gallery | Centretown | Art | Contemporary and 20th-century art |
| Ottawa Jewish Archives | Highland Park | History | A collective memory of the Jewish community of Ottawa and National Capital Region |
| Ottawa Room | Centretown | History | Ottawa’s written heritage for researchers and for residents with a passion for local history |
| Ottawa School of Art Galleries | ByWard Market | Art | A wide variety of contemporary art as well as openings, artist talks, and events |
| Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame | Kanata | Sports | Located in the Canadian Tire Centre |
| Parliament of Canada | Centretown | History | Tours, displays, exhibits |
| Pinhey's Point Historic Site | Dunrobin | History | 19th century estate home, park, and living museum |
| Rideau Hall | Rockcliffe Park | History | Tours of the official residence of the Governor General of Canada |
| Royal Canadian Mint | Lower Town | Currency | Interactive guided tours of the Mint's headquarters, founded in 1908 |
| SAW Gallery | Centretown | Art | Artist-run gallery |
| Shenkman Arts Centre | Orleans | Art | Works of local and regional artists, the Dust Evans Gallery of the Gloucester Pottery School, and the Ottawa School of Art Orléans Campus Gallery |
| Swords and Ploughshares Museum | Kars | Military | Focus is the Citizen Soldier (the Militiaman and Reservist) at peace and at war, features many military trucks and vehicles |
| Symmes National Historic Site of Canada | Aylmer | History | The Symmes Inn Museum is a catalyst for promoting local and regional history |
| Vanier Museopark | Vanier | History | History of Vanier and the Francophone heritage of Ottawa |
| Watson's Mill | Manotick | History | 19th century flour grist mill |
| Workers' History Museum | Centretown | History | Workers’ history and heritage, in the National Capital Region and Ottawa Valley |

## Defunct Museums

| Museum | Location | Type | Notes |
| Canada and the World Pavilion | Rockcliffe Park | Geography | National Film Board of Canada's exhibition space |
| Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography | ByWard Market | Art | Closed in 2009 |
| Canadian Postal Museum | Centretown | Postal | Dissolved in 2012 |
| Canadian Ski Museum | Centretown | Sport | Moved to Mont. Tremblant |
| Wheelhouse Maritime Museum | Centretown | Transportation | Historical maritime museum |