350, Place Royale

The Pointe-à-Callière Museum offers a unique glimpse into a different side of Montreal. While the museum’s modern architecture is striking, it serves as a gateway to the city’s historic roots. Located directly above the site where Ville-Marie was founded in 1642, it sits atop Fort Ville-Marie, an early settlement of Montreal. Beneath the building, you can explore an archaeological site featuring the remnants of Fort Ville-Marie, an old Catholic cemetery, and the former residence of M. Callière, a governor of New France.

The museum offers an 18-minute multimedia presentation in multiple languages, which serves as a captivating overview of Montreal’s history, from its beginnings to the present day—a condensed journey through time.

The museum also showcases evidence of the First Nations’ presence and settlement, providing valuable insight into their role in Montreal’s past.

In its earlier days, the Saint-Pierre River, which once fed into the St. Lawrence River, was used as a makeshift dump, causing significant environmental issues. The river was eventually converted into a drain and buried. Today, the museum allows visitors to walk through North America’s first collector sewer, built between 1832 and 1838, which is beautifully lit and offers a glimpse into the city’s history beneath the surface.

One of the museum’s key exhibits is dedicated to the Great Peace of Montreal (La Traite de la Paix), an historic treaty signed by Louis-Hector de Callière and representatives from 40 Aboriginal nations in 1701, marking a crucial moment in the city’s history.

During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the area beneath the old custom house, where numerous artifacts are on display, shedding light on Montreal’s rich heritage.

On my last visit, I was particularly fascinated by the illuminated sewer tunnel and the glass floor that allowed us to view the remnants of Fort Ville-Marie below. These were the highlights of my experience.

Outside the museum, you’ll find a public art installation. Personally, I found it somewhat disconnected from the museum’s historical context. While it adds to the aesthetic, the artwork felt somewhat out of place in relation to the museum’s theme, giving it a more fragmented feel.

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