Victoria Memorial Museum
240 McLeod Street
Written by Bytown Museum
on
03/Dec/2009
Parliament commissioned the construction of the Victoria Memorial Museum Building (VMMB) to commemorate the late Queen Victoria, following her death in 1901.
When construction began on the site, the federal government envisioned a grand boulevard along Metcalfe Street, stretching from Parliament Hill to the new museum building (then on the outskirts of town). The VMMB was intended to mirror Parliament's Centre Block, with similar stonework and, originally, similar towers. Unfortunately, in 1915, the VMMB's original tower was removed because the foundation could not sustain the tower's weight. The next year, the Centre Block and its tower burned down. While the Centre Block was rebuilt, the VMMB hosted the House of Commons and Senate.
Did you know that 300 Scottish stonemasons were brought across the Atlantic Ocean to work on the “castle,” as the VMMB would come to be called?
The museum opened its doors in 1912 and is considered the birthplace of Canada's national museums. Today, it is home to the Canadian Museum of Nature.
What's your favourite memory of the VMMB?
