Explore the stories of Bytown and Ottawa’s rich cultural heritage, past and present, through our Permanent, Temporary and Community Gallery exhibitions.
From the arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel John By and the construction of the Rideau Canal and the lumber era, to the naming of Ottawa as our nation’s capital and through to the First World War, our Permanent Gallery "Where Ottawa Begins" invites visitors to discover the stories, see the objects and meet the people that shaped Bytown and early Ottawa!
Join the BYTOWN MUSEUM in our 100th anniversary year for an exciting new temporary exhibition, Bytown Museum: A Century of Community. Featuring 100 eclectic, unique and beautiful works from our primary artefact collection, come discover YOUR history and tell us what the BYTOWN MUSEUM means to you!
The BYTOWN MUSEUM collection can trace it roots back to 1898 and the founding of the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa. Today, the Museum builds upon the legacy of the WCHSO. Through its important and eclectic collection the Museum strives to tell the stories of an evolving city – from its first inhabitants and the early days of Bytown to present-day Ottawa.
