One of Québec's most fascinating sites, this museum takes visitors on a historical journey through the centuries, beginning with the early days of Montréal. Generations MTL is a fascinating 17-minute multimedia show featuring six characters from different periods that describe what life was like during key moments in the past. Crossroads Montreal displays artifacts from indigenous cultures and the early Europeans, while the subterranean Memory Collector is an intriguing sound and light installation set in an old sewer channel built in the 1830s.
Interactive exhibits allow visitors to hear what life was like in the 17th and 18th centuries from characters on video screens.
Kids will get a kick out of the "Pirates or Privateers?" exhibit, which explores the world of early-18th-century sailors. Hands-on displays cover the food, navigational gear, tools and weaponry used by the recruits of Captain Iberville. Other attractions include a restored 1915 pumping station. Across the street is the Mariners' House, which hosts a simulated archaeological dig (great for kids) and temporary exhibitions, including some of Montréal's top gallery shows.
The lookout at the top of the tower (free to visit) provides an excellent view of the Old Port.