What’s Happening

The Museum offers a wide variety of activities and promotions for visitors on nearly every calendar day. Please click on the title of events for more information.

JANUARY

We are open by appointment all through the Fall season!

The History of Bar Culture in Ottawa: The Chateau Lafayette

Join us for our first Beyond Bytown lecture of the year as we sit down with The Chateau Lafayette’s General Manager, Deek Labelle, to discuss the history of bar culture in Ottawa. Learn more about Ottawa’s oldest pub – dating to 1849 – as we consider the beginnings of bar culture and its evolution over the years to become what we know today. The discussion will explore the different habits, activities, drinks, and anecdotes of the oldest bars in the city, generation by generation. Start off the New Year with the Bytown Museum and Deek Labelle, drink of choice in hand!

Get your “Pay As You Wish” Tickets Here

Beyond Bytown poster January 2023

2023 Ottawa Awards - FACES Magazine 2023 Ottawa Awards - FACES Magazine

We are excited to announce that our Museum has been nominated as Ottawa’s Museum of the Year!!!

The Winner of this award will be completely decided by you! So please use the link below to vote for our Museum, as it is a People’s choice award. You can vote multiple times, but only once a day so vote, and share with your friends and family!

Voting takes place from January 15th until February 15th, 2023

VOTE HERE

Crafts and Activities

Need some entertainment while you’re at home? We’ve taken some of the crafts you would find at our craft tables, and put them online for you to follow along from home!

Visit our Crafts and Activities page, and download all of our instructions and info sheets.

Virtual Tour

The Bytown Museum, in partnership with Point3D Commercial Imaging Ottawa, is excited to announce the launch of its virtual tour. Take a walk through our three floors of exhibitions, explore artefacts, and immerse yourself in the Museum – located in the Commissariat, Ottawa’s oldest stone building – from home!

Take the Virtual Tour Today

Bytown: Bit by Bit

Filmed on site in social-distancing conditions, and featuring our very own Manager of Visitor Experience Steve Mattiussi, these short videos will feature hot topics on Bytown/Ottawa’s history as well as previews of upcoming exhibitions, special guests, and behind-the-scenes happenings.

Episode 1: Ottawa’s Violent History

Episode 2: Ottawa Becomes Capital

Episode 3: Architecture Tour Pt. 1

Episode 4: Architecture Tour Pt. 2

Episode 5: Building the Canal

Episode 6: Victorian Curiosities

Episode 7: Canadian Confederation

Episode 8: Thomas D’Arcy McGee

Episode 9: The Great Fire of 1900

Episode 10: A Local Canvas Pt. 1

Episode 11: A Local Canvas Pt. 2

Episode 12: Lt. Col. John By