Before heading out to catch an exhibition at one of Ottawa’s museums and galleries this week, check the hours! Several national institutions are closed from Monday through Friday this week for regular annual maintenance, and several smaller museums are closed for all or part of the winter. However, if you’d like to check out vintage locomotives (at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology), barnyard animals (at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum), Cold War artifacts (at the Diefenbunker), currency (at the Bank of Canada Museum or the Royal Canadian Mint) or local art (at the Ottawa Art Gallery), you’re in luck! Here’s the scoop.
Ottawa-area museums closed from January 7 through 11
Photo of the Canadian Museum of Nature by Laura Byrne Paquet.
These museums will return to their regular hours on Saturday, January 12:
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- Canadian Museum of Nature
- National Gallery of Canada
Ottawa-area museums: Other seasonal closures
Photo of the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum by Laura Byrne Paquet.
- Bytown Museum (open by appointment only in January; after that, open Thursdays through Mondays until summer hours begin on May 16)
- Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (closed for the season except for special events)
Ottawa-area museums open this week
Photo courtesy of the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
- Bank of Canada Museum (but closed Mondays until May 1)
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (but closed Mondays and Tuesdays until March 1)
- Canada Museum of Science and Technology (but closed Mondays, except holiday Mondays, until May 1)
- Diefenbunker (but closed Wednesdays until March 1)
- Museoparc Vanier (but closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
- Nepean Museum (open daily)
- Ottawa Art Gallery (open daily)
- Royal Canadian Mint (I know, not really a museum, but close) (open daily)
If you’re looking for more inspiration for a museum road trip, check out my recent post, Eight great museums to visit in Ottawa and beyond.
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