Playful children’s museum offering hands-on exhibitions, costumes, artefacts, toys & games. Welcome to the Canadian Children’s Museum! Join us on a global adventure through a Mexican kitchen, an open-air market, and a cargo ship. Our Museum provides a unique educational experience, broadening children’s horizons by inviting them to explore diverse cultures. Nestled within the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, just minutes from downtown Ottawa, it’s the ideal family destination for a day brimming with laughter, exploration, and educational fun!
The museum’s permanent exhibition, “The Great Adventure,” immerses children in multicultural destinations such as Nigeria, Japan, India, Mexico, and Indonesia. These interactive exhibits encourage hands-on exploration and learning. Additionally, the museum hosts special exhibitions, including “From Pepinot to PAW Patrol – Television of Our Childhoods,” which showcases 70 years of children’s television programming.
With a collection of over 15,000 items, the museum offers a rich array of artifacts, toys, games, clothing, art, and photographs from around the world, reflecting the lives of children past and present. It is a member of the international Association of Children’s Museums and the Youth Museums Exhibit Collaborative.
The museum underwent a major renewal project starting in January 2020 and reopened in May 2022, continuing to provide engaging and educational experiences for young visitors and their families.
The Canadian Children’s Museum is located within the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, just across the Ottawa River from downtown Ottawa. Established in 1989, it is Canada’s largest exhibition centre designed specifically for children up to age 14 and their adult companions. The museum attracts approximately half a million visitors each year.
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