Library & National Archives of Canada

Ottawa


The mandate of this monstrous concrete institution is to collect and preserve the documentation of Canada. Behind the tiny checkered windows lies a vast anthology of records, including paintings, maps, photographs, diaries, letters, posters and 60,000 cartoons and caricatures collected over the past two centuries. Rotating exhibits are displayed on the ground floor.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ottawa attractions

1. Supreme Court of Canada

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This intimidating structure strikes an intriguing architectural balance between its modern concrete shell and its traditional copper roof. Visitors can…

2. Canadian War Museum

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Fascinating displays twist through the labyrinthine interior of this sculpture-like, modern museum, tracing Canada's military history with the nation's…

3. Parliament Hill

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Vast, yawning archways, copper-topped turrets and Gothic-Revival gargoyles dominate the facade of the stunning lime-and-sandstone parliament buildings…

4. Canadian Museum of History

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5. Bytown Museum

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6. Ottawa Locks

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7. Senate of Canada

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8. National Gallery of Canada

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