Museum Expansion

Click on the above arrow to see the video on the expansion project

Read our latest bulletin to learn more about the project - August 2012 Bulletin

Watch the movie "Montreal, A Capital, a Parliament (1844-1849)"

Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal Archaeology and History Complex
When Pointe-à-Callière was first built, back in 1992, the Museum already had plans to preserve the remaining exceptional historic sites in Old Montréal and to create a world-class tourist attraction for the city of Montréal, the Montreal Archaeology and History Complex based exclusively on the authenticity of these historic sites.

The overall goal is to create a nine-part museum and tourism complex on the Pointe-à-Callière site. In addition to the existing museum components, this will include opening the William collector sewer along a distance of 400 metres, creating a world-class exhibition space in the basement of the Customs Canada building, showcasing the remains of St. Ann's Market and the Parliament of the United Province of Canada, Fort Ville-Marie and Callière's Residence, and upgrading the Mariners' House.

Phase 1 in progress
Phase 1 of the  Montreal Archaeology and History Complex expansion project began in spring 2011, with the conversion of the Mariners' House (formerly the Maison du Père) into a key centre devoted to archaeology, along with archaeological digs to unearth the remains of St. Ann's Market, later to become the first Parliament of the United Province of Canada.

This ambitious expansion will give the city of Montréal a museological complex of national and international scope.

Pointe-à-Callière Today

1 - Éperon Building - 1992

Multimedia and exhibitions

The Éperon building is Pointe-à-Callière’s masthead, rising above the remains of the prestigious 19th century Royal Insurance Company building. Its foundations stand atop even earlier remains, including Montréal’s first Catholic cemetery, dating from 1643.
Opened to the public: 1992

2 - Place Royale -1992

Archaeological crypt / Cultural activities and workshops

Set beneath historic Place Royale, the crypt showcases archaeological strata with traces of six centuries of history, dating all the way back to 1350.
Opened to the public: 1992

3 - Ancienne Douane Building - 1837

Exhibitions – workshops / Education and family

This historic building houses exhibitions-workshops for school groups and families. The elegant building, with facades on both the city and the harbor, was designed in 1837 by British architect John Ostell as Montréal's first Custom House.
Opened to the public: 1992

4 - Mariners' House - 1953

Temporary exhibitions and Archaeo Youthspace

This 3,500 m2 building will house multipurpose rooms, equipped with cutting-edge technology, for hosting major temporary exhibitions, cultural and special events, and the Archaeo Youthspace.

5 - Youville Pumping Station -1915

Industrial heritage

Montréal’s first electrically powered wastewater pumping station. The building conserves and  interprets industrial heritage, with an educational workshop, special events and a documentation centre on Montréal.
Opening to the public: 1998

Major partner

A network for tomorrow

6 - Fort Ville-Marie - 1642 / Callière's Residence - 1688

Montreal's birthplace - Archaeological Field School

Walls and other exceptional traces of Montréal’s birthplace have been unearthed during digs conducted by the Archaeological Field School, in partnership with Université de Montréal.
Opening to the public: 2016

7 - St.Ann's Market - 1832 / Parliamant of the United Canada - 1844

Remains and history

Marking a milestone in the country’s history, the first permanent Parliament of the United Province of Canada was established in the St. Ann’s Market building in 1844. A number of important pieces of legislation were adopted here, including the 1848 act establishing “responsible government.”
Opening to the public: 2017

8 - Canada Customs House (basement) - 1916

International exhibitions

The monumental Canada Customs building has a vast basement well-suited to worldclass temporary  exhibitions. The underground network will offer direct access to this space. 
Opening to the public: 2017

9 - Canalized River William collector sewer - 1832

Underground network for the complex

The Little Saint-Pierre River, converted into a collector sewer, will be the backbone of the Montreal Archaeology and History Complex: a network connecting a unique collection of authentic archaeological and historic sites. The collector sewer, accessible along a distance of 400 metres, is a magical place in itself, a dramatic and fascinating journey into the belly of the historic city. Aboveground, it will be transformed into an urban garden.
Opening to the public: 2017