Summer Activities at Ottawa Museums

As the school year comes to a close our city’s museums are gearing up for summer with a number of special activities and exhibits.  Here are a few of the special museum events coming up around town.

Try out Orienteering

Love the outdoors, fresh air, and exploring new places? Come out to Pinhey's Point Historic Site on Sunday, May 15 to discover the exciting sport of orienteering! Orienteering Ottawa will be on site to help you learn the ins and outs of this adventurous sport – you can try out the short course, or attempt to tackle the longer course over the entire 88 acres of the property. With crafts, lawn games, and a BBQ (extra cost), so you can refuel, it's going to be a wonderful day in the great outdoors.

Heritage Power Show

Get ready for our annual event showcasing how far technology has come since the 1920s and 30s. Join Vintage Iron and Traditions of Eastern Ontario at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on Sunday, May 29 and discover advancements made in the home, the farm, and the field through activities, demonstrations, and displays of vintage equipment. 

Catch a Travelling Tent Show

Before Netflix and YouTube, people would be thrilled for the opportunity to see a tent show featuring music, theatre, and comedy in an outdoor setting. This year's theme is "Fun, Fire, and Smallpox", recounting the troubled times of early 20th century Ottawa. The show will be at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on May 27, Billings Estate National Historic Site on May 28, Fairfields Heritage House on June 10, and Pinhey's Point Historic Site on June 11. Please contact us for more information or to book your tickets.

Artefact Showcase

The Province of Upper Canada land grant was issued to Henrietta McDonell, who was granted a 200-acre tract of land in the Township of Nepean in 1801. This recent addition to the City of Ottawa Museums' collection had suffered some damage over the past 200 years, so a local paper conservator preserved the document for future generations. The land grant is part of the collection of the Nepean Museum and one of over 200,000 in the care of the City of Ottawa Museums. 

Fancy a Spot of Tea?

It's that time of year again – the Billings Estate National Historic Site's Tea on the Lawn service is open for the season! Enjoy a tea and scone, or treat yourself and get our delicious 3-tier service including finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts for $13.00 + tax per person. Tea on the Lawn is available most Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm until the end of August. Reservations are recommended so please contact us to make one or for more information.

Explore Artefacts and Architecture

Did you know that one of Ottawa's most prestigious events is just around the corner? On June 4 and 5, you're invited to explore Ottawa's culture, history, and architecture during Doors Open Ottawa, when over 100 buildings open their doors to the public for free. This year, why not take the opportunity to visit one of the City of Ottawa Museums, like Fairfields Heritage House? You can also take a peek behind the scenes and view our artefacts in our storage facilities for the Billings Estate National Historic Site Collection at the Routhier Community Centre or the Gloucester Artefact Collection at the Leitrim Complex at 4550 Bank St.

For more information about the event, you can visit the Doors Open Ottawa website, Facebook page, or look out for event guides coming soon. Doors Open Ottawa event guides will be available in the Ottawa Citizen on May 27 and in leDroit on May 28. You can also pick up an event guide from Bridgehead coffee houses on May 23 and at City Hall on May 16. 

It’s Almost Time for Play!

Our newest exhibition, Play! The Building Blocks of Learning, is set to open at the Atrium Gallery in Ben Franklin Place this coming June. This new and exciting exhibition explores how the ways we play are connected to the ways we learn through interactive elements that illustrate the importance of active play-based learning. Keep checking this newsletter for further updates about Play! The Building Blocks of Learning, and to find out about other locations where you can see this exhibition this summer.