Visit to the Museum of Civilization

Today we went to the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It's located just across the Ottawa River from the Parliament Buildings, in Quebec. The building itself is architecturally attractive. It houses a large collection as well as some visiting exhibits. It also houses the Canadian Children's Museum, the Canadian Postal Museum and an IMAX theatre. The permanent collection includes a huge room with a high light blue ceiling (so it looks like you are outside). There are also exhibits set up like buildings so it looks like you are walking through the streets of New France (watching a sailing ship being built) or a small town in the 1920's.

Part of the visiting collection is the Dead Sea Scrolls. I recommend you visit without young children, who may become bored. On the other hand, I saw the only known ornament from the First Temple, the oldest known fragment of a Biblical verse, and a portion of the Book of Isaiah. Personally I was amazed. As a note, if you decide to go, go as early as you can on a Saturday. It was busy enough when we went through at about 10:00am (some of the Dead Sea Scroll exhibits are very small). After lunch, there would have been no point in trying to go.

While the museum is very attractive, it is a bit confusing. There is a central place where you pay your admission, and then multiple exhibit halls off it. This means that you need to show your stamped hand quite a number of times. Also, in my opinion, there is a disproportionate representation of Aboriginal culture. For example, one of the exhibit halls has a presentation on a small group of Inuit (who number a few hundred). While it is interesting to know about them, they were extremely isolated and had little influence on the development of Canadian civilization (or other Aboriginal cultures either). Yes, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is about Canadian civilization. Do not expect much in the way other civilizations, except in respect to how they may have immigrated to Canada.

Ottawa is a great place for homeschoolers. Families with children should consider coming to Ottawa for a week to see the sights. These include: the Museum of Civilization, the Museum of Nature, the Museum of Science and Technology, the War Museum, the National Gallery and the Aviation Museum. There are other smaller museums, including the Currency Museum in the Bank of Canada building, and the Experimental Farm. Also there are such attractions as Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court and the Rideau Canal.