Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History

"Pointe-à-Callière, in Old Montreal, is the largest and most frequently visited history museum in Montreal, and the largest archaeology museum in Canada. Even its location is significant: It's built on the site where Montreal was founded in 1642. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, Pointe-à-Callière also presents three to four temporary exhibitions a year, including on topics far from Montreal, like Easter Island and the Royal Queens of Ancient Egypt. You'll need a good 90 minutes to explore Pointe-à-Callière's permanent "Where Montréal Was Born" exhibition. Up on the roof, the glass-walled L’Arrivage Bistro has a lunch menu and spectacular views of the Old Port." - Todd Plummer

"There is perhaps some irony that one of the most distinctive contemporary buildings in the historic heart of Montréal is a showcase for some of the city's oldest artifacts. The modern structure that houses this archaeology and history museum opened in 1992, to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the establishment of Montréal. The highlight is its crypt, where you can wander through the digs of the city's 18th-century market. A new pavilion, "Where Montréal Began," opened in 2017 on the occasion of the city's 375th anniversary. Its display of artifacts emphasizes the spiritual traditions of both the French settlers and Québec's Algonquin, Huron, and Iroquois peoples. Temporary exhibitions on subjects like hockey and the archives of Bell Telephone help bridge the gap between Montréal's early history and the present day."

"Pointe-à-Callière, the largest archaeology museum in Canada, is built atop the historic Old Montreal sites where the city was founded in 1642. There is lots of drama here, from the excavated remains of the original settlement to interactive video installations. Pointe-à-Callière also presents three to four temporary exhibitions every year." - Todd Plummer

"What's the story here? Pointe-à-Callière, in Old Montreal, is the largest and most frequently visited history museum in the city, and the largest archaeology museum in Canada. Tell us about the space. This is a site museum, meaning that it has been built on the historic site where Montreal was founded in 1642. For repeat customers, or those looking to go a little deeper, are there any special exhibits on offer? In addition to the permanent exhibitions showcasing Montreal’s history and archaeology, Pointe-à-Callière also presents three to four temporary exhibitions a year, often focused on topics far from Montreal, like Easter Island or the Royal Queens of Ancient Egypt. Anything we should know about their tours? The hour-long guided tours, held daily in French and English, cover the archaeological ruins and are included in the price of admission. No reservations needed. If it's the most frequently visited history museum, is there any way to avoid the crowds? Interestingly this museum doesn't get too crowded, although the popular temporary exhibitions can get very busy. So who is it best for? Pointe-à-Callière is a must-see destination for history and archaeology buffs. Should we drop in on the gift shop? Totally fine to skip. We've done a tour, we've perused the exhibits—now we're hungry. What are our options? Up on the roof, the glass-walled L’Arrivage Bistro has a lunch menu and spectacular views of the Old Port. What's the minimum amount of time we need? You'll need a good 90 minutes to explore Pointe-à-Callière's permanent "Where Montréal Was Born" exhibition." - Richard Burnett

"Pointe-à-Callière, in Old Montreal, is the largest and most frequently visited history museum in Montreal, and the largest archaeology museum in Canada. Even its location is significant: It's built on the site where Montreal was founded in 1642. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, Pointe-à-Callière also presents three to four temporary exhibitions a year, including on topics far from Montreal, like Easter Island and the Royal Queens of Ancient Egypt." - Richard Burnett