Culture

Upon entering Parc du Mont Royal, explore the free permanent exhibit at the historic Smith House. The exhibit, "Monte Real, Monreale, Mont Royal, Montreal," includes a history of the park as well as information about conservation. The house is one of the last remaining examples of rural architecture in Montreal. It served may uses from 1958 until the late 1980s—from a family home, to a police and first aid station, to an art center, to a hunting museum. Today, its purpose is to preserve and promote Mont Royal.

See an arms collection dating back to the 16th century at Musée Stewart in the Fort on Île Sainte-Hélène. The fort is an artifact in itself: It served as a military depot for British troops in the 1820s. The museum's permanent exhibition features maps and maritime prints as well as decorative arts and 18th century physics instruments. Although the museum is currently closed for renovations, it will re-open in May 2010.

Housed in Montreal's old prison, the Centre d'exposition La Prison-des-Patriotes presents information about the rebellions of 1837 and 1838. Learn about the history of the building and the politics of the rebellion. Admission is free.

Part of McGill University's campus, the Redpath Museum doubles as a learning center for graduate students. Free to the public, the natural history museum includes an Ethnology Gallery containing mummies and cultural artifacts from Egypt. See a T-rex skull as well as extinct marine reptiles that shared the Earth with dinosaurs. Learn about at-risk species in Quebec at the biodiversity exhibit, and take a stroll through the outdoor Geological Garden, which features some of Canada's native minerals.

Peruse over 800 items—First Nations objects, photographs, clothing, and sporting equipment—that together symbolize the history and culture of the city at the Musée McCord. The museum is free to the public on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

The Musée de Lachine includes the Maison LeBer-LeMoyne, built around 1670 as part of a fur trading post. The main house and other related buildings are the oldest in Montreal. Hundreds of items, including artifacts from archaeological digs on-site, are part of the museum's permanent exhibit that highlights daily life at the house over the past few centuries. Open from April to December.