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Pointe-A-Calliere Musee D'archeologie Et D'histoire
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
350, Place RoyaleMontreal, QC H2Y 3Y5
(514) 872-9150
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 10 am - 5 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
18 reviews for Pointe-A-Calliere Musee D'archeologie Et D'histoire
Review Highlights
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"Tours and movie are provided in both French and English." In 4 reviews -
"Great technology, artifacts and information of course." In 4 reviews -
"A lot of stoen ruins dating way back." In 7 reviews
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16 reviews in English
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Review from Jason L.
5/2/2012
Awesome! Know nothing about the history of Montreal? This is a great hands on museum perched above the archaeological dig site of the original fort and the first cemetery. Don't miss the very well done multimedia presentation at the beginning of the tour.
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Review from Katherine W.
Montréal, QC
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Pointe-A-Calliere twice now. The first time was with Abigail M., and the second was with my parents. My hands-down favorite part is the multimedia experience or whatever they call it. It is totally ridiculous and fabulously informative. There are parts that are baldly racist (like the bit about the Chinaman with the laundry on the corner) and others that are blatantly sterilized (the Natives might not be happy about these new folks moving in), but I feel that they add to the charm of the whole thing. The tech parts are impressive, and the experience delivers a ton of information in a very short period of time.
The rest of the museum is also interesting. I would not recommend taking one of the free tours that are offered, though. Maybe we just got unlucky, but I think that the tour might have been the most painful 60 minutes of my life. Mr. Tour Guide had a peculiar fascination with toilets and chamberpots and told some of the worst jokes that I have ever heard (and since I have to listen to my own jokes, this is saying something). The only thing that he told us that I found worthwhile was that, in the little 5-part diorama thingy that shows how Montreal changes, they rather hilariously indicated which of the miniature people were English by giving them little umbrellas.
I would recommend just wandering instead. The museum is very interactive and has a lot of multimedia. It also has some great stuff for kids. Honestly, though, part of the reason that I enjoyed this place like I did is that most of it is just plain odd. The final exhibit (love stories in Montreal or something like that) is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in a museum; I think that the curator of that portion was probably stoned when (s)he came up with the idea. The hologram people who tell you about living in Montreal back in the day are absurd. A fair number of the representations of or information given about Natives is probably slightly racist and/or insulting. But the museum delivers an enormous amount of information about the city's multicultural background. And (at the risk of sounding too much like a grad student) I would imagine that the multimedia approach supports and subscribes to the obvious effort that the museum is making to show Montreal's mixed/diverse background.
I will probably continue bringing visitors to this museum and possibly will even return without them.
Oh, I should add that they are apparently working on expanding the underground portion of the museum to include more of the sewer and other remains. I don't remember when Mr. Tour Guide said that would pan out, but I imagine that it will take quite a while. -
Review from Abigail M.
Montréal, QC
4/11/2012
My favorite thing about this museum is the overview it gives guests of Montreal. The film (though a bit cheese-ball) is engaging. It's on a huge, Imax-like screen and includes projections on the archeological ruins below. The narration covers history of Montreal since its settlement to present day, offering a helpful timeline for first-time visitors.
The archeological exhibit is fascinating. It also includes film projections and interactive recordings of historical figures. I like that if you "talk" with these characters for too long, they will start to ignore you. it's hilarious.
My mom appreciated the elevator access to each floor. But there is no place to casually grab a coffee/snack.
We got breakfast at Olive et Gourmando beforehand, which is just a few blocks away. -
Review from Brian T.
9/7/2011
This is one of the finest museums I have ever seen, and a MUST for visitors (and residents) of Montreal.
The way they have taken archeological sites of Montreal and woven a modern, fluid museum around them is a true achievement. The exhibition is interesting, enlightening, and educational. Truly stimulating to the imagination.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Devin L.
3/24/2011
I really enjoyed this "Birthplace of Montreal" museum.
It's built on the area where Montreal started as a trading post. The museum gives you a cheesy movie of Montreal's history, ok movie just cheesy. You then get to walk through the archaeological site underneath the museum. It's very interesting looking at the artifacts of First Nation tribes, Montreal settlers and traders. Walking in a real site is also an experience. Seeing the walls, floors, plumbing, everything is just intense.
There is also an exhibit on Rue St. Catherine. It shows how Montreal became a capital of culture. -
Review from Julie K.
6/10/2009
A friend who was in Montreal last summer recommended that I come here on my recent trip. Since I love history, I made this one of my first destinations.
As Lindsey J. wrote, it is a really remarkable museum. I particularly enjoyed watching the 30-minute presentation about the history of Montreal's founding. The highlight, though, was seeing the actual ruins, over which the Pointe-A-Calliere is built.
Definitely worth a stop and a few hours of your time. -
Review from Jocelyn C.
8/10/2008
This is a VERY cool museum, but not one that would immediately pop into one's head to visit. This is a definite plus.
You learn about the history and archeology of Montreal, from its very early pre-settler beginnings up to recent improvements and beyond. You get to see artifacts that have been dug up from centuries ago, dioramas of the original city layouts and you get to walk deep down into the trenches of the sewer lines (not in use anymore, thankfully). You also get to see a slightly cheesy historical reenactment in a dark, tiny theatre, but even that low point was somewhat fun and informative.
Everyone can take the über-touristy route and visit the crowded art and science museums, but don't overlook this gem. I would highly recommend it to anyone, locals and tourists alike. It's also very kid-friendly, and they have a cute little gift shop at the end to wander through.Listed in: Montreal, done right.
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Review from Jef S.
1/7/2010
Quebec has got the cool museum thing locked down. Musee D'archeologie Et D'histoire is a bravo case in point. We went on a busy Saturday during lunchtime. Good thing too, because when we left the lobby was mobbed out the door. Crowds are one of only two drawbacks in this museum, the other being the confusing layout. There are stairs and elevators and paths to mysterious places and it's hard to know where the tour starts and stops. But one can figure it out and enjoy even without the guided tour.
The sense of place is palpable here; in most museums one just looks at objects. Musee D'archeologie Et D'histoire is built right on the point where the city was settled, the result being a layer cake-like stratification of ruins from bygone eras. It's really, really weird to be standing on such a pivotal location where so many who are now gone have walked and made history before you ever existed. Or maybe I'm just over-awed. Anyway, you walk through the catacomb and see how the layer cake was made. It's like a Quebec-style episode of Quantum Leap. Exhibits are well executed and appear in both Anglais and en Francais. I thought the two hours we spent was well worth the mid-range price of admission.
Highly recommended for history buffs, yet still very accessible to the generic tourist who wants to get off the beaten path. Metro stop is Place d'Armes, then a five minute walk to the river point.Listed in: Canada!
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Review from James M.
2/25/2010
Having spent many wonderful weekends in Montreal, I am sad that we never discovered this museum before last weekend. We have been two blocks from here at the science museum three or four times, and never even knew this one existed. We would have missed it this last trip as well if it were not for staying overnight for a change and having it recommended by the concierge at our hotel.
The movie at the outset was awesome-very well done; more of a multimedia experience than a movie. They use multiple projects on multiple screens to show the story of Montreal and how it was developed from the time of the Hochelaga Indians to present day.
The ruins were great-it was my first time ever at an archeological site. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of the sewer system, including the section that is here to walk in to. I am sure it has nothing on Paris, but to see the way people dealt with these issues over a hundred years ago is pretty cool.
We were with three children-age 5, 7 and 9 and they all had a great time. There is a lookout that they enjoyed, but you had to stay indoors because it was winter. A summer day out on the lookout terrace would have been very nice. This is a true Gem and a one of a kind museum. I have never been anywhere like it before. -
Review from Brian B.
9/6/2011
Amazing museum for visitors to Montreal. Great technology, artifacts and information of course. I really learned a lot and had a ton of fun. Be sure to watch the video presentation in the theater.
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Review from Mike B.
7/16/2011
excellent, well-assembled, inexpensive museum about the social, political, and cultural history of Montreal, with a splash of the more general history of Quebec and Canada thrown in as well.
you watch a video that's approximately 15-20 minutes about Montreal's history. then you progress on your tour through the building.
it's literally built on top of ruins of the first structures in this city, which is pretty damn epic. the first floor is a tour through those ruins.
the layout can be a bit confusing at times, as some sections kind of branch out and loop back, but you won't get lost.
exhibits are all in French and English, so don't worry if your French is as limited as mine is.
there are a few interactive exhibits but for the most part exhibits are static and kept away from prying hands.
it's pretty spacious - there were lots of people on a Wednesday late morning, but we were still able to move around freely. you can spend a good 2 hours and learn a lot about Montreal's history here. -
Review from Lindsey J.
6/9/2009
Um, I'm really surprised that I'm the first to review this museum on Yelp...On my recent visit to Montreal, this place was suggested by both Frommer's and DK Eyewitness Top 10 guides. It doesn't disappoint.
Situated across two buildings and their underground connection, it's a museum dedicated to the history of Montreal. As such, it's situated *on top of* the excavations of the first settlement on Montreal (Ville Marie). Their main exhibit is the excavation of the ruins in the basement, but the museum does feature special exhibits on the upper floors of both buildings (when I visited, there was a pirate and privateer exhibit and an exhibition on local love stories). There is a 30 minute film on the beginnings of Montreal that is tempting to miss but I don't recommend skipping it. It really gives a great overview of the beginnings of Montreal and gives a good basis for understanding the excavations below. Plus it's very artfully done, so it's worth it for the entertainment value if nothing else. The exhibits are self-guided walking tours in French and English. The walking length is probably two city blocks or more, but there are wheelchairs available if needed. All exhibits are wheelchair accessible. Also don't miss the belvedere on the top of the Eperon Building (the one with the cafe). It gives a great view of old Montreal and the waterfront across the St. Lawrence, and there are plaques and brass viewfinders that point out and detail important buildings in the landscape. If you are conscientious about looking at everything, you could spend upwards of 3-4 hours here, but the suggested time to tour is 90 minutes.
The museum is located close to the waterfront in Old Montreal and is closest to the Place d'Armes Metro stop, but it's a hike from the Metro, so I would recommend taking a taxi if it's raining or you have issues with walking. The price was $14 for a single adult admission, but it slides downward for students, seniors and kids. For everything the museum offers, this is very reasonable. For all the history museums I've been to, this is probably the most well presented, well done, and well supported. A must for anyone visiting the area whether you have a half-day or a week. -
Review from Dennis S.
6/26/2009
History of Montreal, from its beginning (French settlement) to the 20th century. Visiting the archeology site in the basement is unique, but without the tour (included in price) and the context it provides, it is not very interesting. The movie about the city is also worthwhile. Tours and movie are provided in both French and English.
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Review from Vanessa W.
2/16/2009
This museum, along with the arts, are a must-see in Montreal. Although I wished there were more interactive elements, rather than plaques to read I thought it was overall very good. It's a museum primarily located underground with layer upon layer of history - literally. A lot of stoen ruins dating way back. This museum helped me understand as a tourist Montreal's history and importance.
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Review from Anna P.
8/10/2010
This is my favorite museum in Montreal, and one of my top favorite museums of all time. The multimedia presentation is a tiny bit dated, but the tour guide was outstanding. After the presentation, you are guided around the actual foundations of the old city, where video is projected onto the walls to show you what the buildings were used for. It's a FANTASTIC technique, and gives something for tourists with any level of understanding of Quebec history something to talk about.
Ask about the combined ticket with the spa down the street! -
Review from Dan G.
8/2/2010 8 photos
Easily the coolest museum we went to on our trip. This is where the city originally was when it was founded in 1642. After you watch a multimedia presentation (in both French and English) about the history of Montreal and its settlers you start downstairs where you can explore it. The ruins of the old town are basically the basement level of this museum. You will learn about the progress of town through architecture, trade and industry. It was really neat to see all of the old ruins and artifacts. It was very well designed and impressively high tech and interactive. The underground shows the origins of the sewers and walkways and leads you to the the site which used to be the old customs house and square. I'm usually more for art museums, but this one is not to be missed. Nearly four centuries of history for you here. They also had an exhibit on Easter island which was really cool. Also be sure to go all the way to the lookout up top for great views of Old Montreal.
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