At Your Museum - May 2017

Enjoy the Warmer Weather at Your Local Museums

Play in the past. Make happy memories for the future.

Celebrate Mother's Day

Searching for a special outing this coming Mother's Day? On Sunday, May 14, visit one of the City of Ottawa Museums! Cumberland Heritage Village Museum will be hosting their new Back to the Farm event. Help us welcome the heritage breed farm animals back to the museum with games, crafts, and demonstrations. Fairfields Heritage House is hosting a Family Picnic, so bring a packed lunch and we'll provide board and lawn games, crafts, and a few treats. Pinhey's Point Historic Site will be showcasing some of the exciting activities taking place all summer, so come to the banks of the Ottawa River and enjoy a guided tour of Ottawa's oldest standing home, play some games, and try some fun hands-on activities.

Play with us this PA Day

If you're looking for something for the kids to do on the Friday, May 19 PA Day, look no further than Billings Estate National Historic Site and Nepean Museum. Kids aged 6 to 10 can plan, design, and construct different structures as they learn more about what it took to build Ottawa so many years ago. They'll make a log cabin with Lincoln Logs, handle authentic artefacts, and even try building a (Billings) bridge of their own. Registration is required for this program, so please contact us to find out more and to reserve your child's place.

Grab a Compass and Run!

Have you ever tried the sport of orienteering? It's so much more than a leisurely hike in the woods with map and compass in hand. Join our friends from Orienteering Ottawa as they host their annual Field Day at Pinhey's Point Historic Site on Saturday, May 20 from 9 am to 2 pm. Receive an introduction to the sport and try some of the different courses set up throughout this 88-acre site. For those less inclined to run about the woods and fields, you can always bring a picnic blanket to sit on the shores of the river and enjoy the BBQ (additional costs apply) provided by Orienteering Ottawa.

Enjoy Some Yoga and Breakfast

There's nothing like a good stretch in the morning - especially if it's followed by a delicious breakfast! On Saturday, May 20, wake up early and come out to the gardens at Billings Estate National Historic Site for an hour of beginner yoga. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious scone with clotted cream and jam, fruit salad, and a beverage from the Billings Estate National Historic Site tea room. Contact us to register and  ensure that you get your morning started on the right (or left) foot.

It's Time for Heritage Power

On Sunday, May 28 it's time for the annual Heritage Power show at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, hosted by Vintage Iron and Traditions of Eastern Ontario. Club members will be on site to demonstrate their antique equipment and machinery. If you enjoy something a little quieter, then check out spinning, weaving, sewing, quilting, or woodworking demonstrations taking place throughout the museum.

Artefact Showcase

Are you planning to explore Canada by train this summer? Rail travel has been popular for generations and it's always important to play it safe. This Canadian National Rail safety poster from the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum collection dates to the 1940s. It has just undergone a conservation treatment to clean and stabilize the document for future generations. We're pretty sure that the same rules apply as much today as they did nearly 80 years ago. You can see this poster, and other artefacts like it, at the City of Ottawa Museums collection facilities this June 3 and 4 during Doors Open Ottawa.

Did You Know?

If you're getting all worked up over this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, it's interesting to note that hockey mania and hockey rivalries aren't just a recent thing. In the 1910s and 1920s, Ottawa was home to a very successful women's team, the Ottawa Alerts. Prior to 1915, women's teams played only recreationally and generally didn't travel.  The Alerts, however, toured parts of Canada and the United States, playing other women's teams from places like Montreal and Pittsburgh. Their biggest rivalry was with the North Toronto AAA team. It seems that some things never change… Learn more interesting facts about your city with our special exhibition, "Through the Eyes of the Community: 150 Years of Ottawa's History" presented at Ottawa City Hall, Billings Estate National Historic Site, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, Nepean Museum, and Pinhey's Point Historic Site starting in May.

Visit Fairfields Heritage House this Summer

Have you ever been to Fairfields Heritage House? This stone farmhouse was home to generations of the Bell family for nearly 200 years and features beautiful grounds and even the family's apple orchard. This summer, Fairfields Heritage House will be open to the public on weekends from May 14 to September 3, from 10 am to 5 pm. Located on Richmond Road right across from the Bayshore Mall, it is an easy stop on your next weekend road trip.

Doors Open Ottawa Coming this June!

Everyone's favourite annual architectural event is nearly here! On Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4, over 150 buildings across Ottawa will open their doors to the public free of charge as part of Doors Open Ottawa. This year, be an integral part of the event and consider volunteering for Doors Open Ottawa. The deadline for volunteering is fast approaching, so contact us soon!

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Get the most up-to-date details about special events and programs, and lots of other neat information by following us on Facebook. Billings Estate National Historic Site Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Fairfields Heritage House Nepean Museum Pinhey's Point Historic Site Doors Open Ottawa Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for our newsletter? Please contact Melissa Lansing at melissa.lansing@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2424 ext. 19040.