Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History stands in Gatineau, across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill. Its building, designed by architect Douglas Cardinal to reflect features of the Canadian landscape, opened to the public in June 1989, and the institution took its current name in 2013 after years as the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The Canadian Encyclopedia counts it as Canada's most visited museum, with an average of 1.2 million visitors a year.

The Grand Hall is shaped like an ocean-going canoe and holds a large collection of historic monumental poles, works by Bill Reid and Alex Janvier, and panoramic views of the river and Parliament Hill. The Canadian History Hall opened in 2017 in a 4,500 square metre space, and families can spend time in the Children's Museum. Adult admission is $25 plus tax, and Destination Canada notes that most visitors take a day or longer.