Blow away the cobwebs and dusty glass cases! Today’s museums are interactive, lively and topical – places where revelations and discoveries are just as likely to provoke new questions as answer them. Subjects are fascinating, maybe even disturbing, but it’s all part of reality in the big museum world of show and tell.
Two of the largest museums in the Ottawa area (Canada) are the Canadian War Museum / Musée canadien de la guerre! and Canadian Museum of Civilization / Musée canadien des civilizations.
Both are open daily and each has special temporary exhibits through January 6, 2013, with more to follow. As partner institutions they offer discounted tickets for both museums at either site. The CWM is in Ottawa while the CMC sits on the Gatineau, Québec side of the Ottawa River, facing the Canadian parliament.
Together with friends I toured both museums between Christmas and New Year’s, joined by many others out to banish stay-at-home cabin fever. Immersing ourselves in all those exhibits was a great escape from winter (and shopping too, I might add!).
The Museum of Civilization shows Canadian human history from coast to coast to coast with special exhibits highlighting jewels in that necklace. Speaking of jewels, the Queen’s jubilee is one such current exhibit; another is Haitian voodoo, including a video of a ritual in Montréal. Both exhibits end January 6.
The museum entrance is an impressive Grand Hall containing the world’s largest collection of totem poles. The First Peoples Hall continues as aboriginal culture meets European, with ensuing history through Canada Hall into the present. There’s also a 3D IMAX theatre and Children’s Museum.
The entire complex, representing aspects of the Canadian landscape, occupies a prime view of Parliament Hill.
Also on the Ottawa River and two kilometres (1.25 miles) west of Parliament, the War Museum rises like a phoenix with a tall concrete fin thrusting eastward. Unusually small windows in the fin spell out in Morse code “Lest we forget” and “N’oublions jamais” – in keeping with a theme of regeneration and hope for a better future.
Permanent galleries inside the bunker-like structure detail the way that conflict has determined Canadian history and development. The museum has been lauded for its collection of military vehicles, including Hitler’s private car.
The special War of 1812 exhibit garnered our attention for a considerable chunk of time, exploring the war from 4 points of view: American, British, Canadian and native peoples. For Americans it reaffirmed their independence from Britain; for the British it was an irritating distraction from the Napoleonic wars; for Canadians it was a test of endurance and loyalty to the crown; for natives it was a potential opportunity to regain their lands by (mainly) siding with the British. This exhibit ends Jan. 6.
Another exhibit currently presents the story of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (posthumously made an honourary Canadian) in his daring scheme that saved tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust.
Note: Both museums will close for renovations Jan. 7-11, 2013
PHOTOS
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Story and photos copyright © Gary Crallé 2013. No commercial reproduction without written consent.
Canadian Museum of Civilization / Musée canadien des civilizations
http://www.civilization.ca/exhibitions
Canadian War Museum / Musée canadien de la guerre! http://www.warmuseum.ca/
Ottawa Tourism http://www.ottawatourism.ca/