Working to preserve Ottawa's past
for future generations.
Resources (4)
Click the map of Ottawa to explore local museums
Bytown Museum
"Located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, the Bytown Museum explores the stories of an evolving city and its residents from its early days as Bytown to present day Ottawa."
Ottawa Museum Network
Twelve Ottawa-area community museums, in-person and online.
Perth & Area Museums
A list of the museums in Perth and surrounding area.
Renfrew County Museums Network
"The Renfrew County Museums Network (RCMN) was formed in 2002 so that all of the county museums in operation at that time could both share technical information and collectively promote their facilities. ... At our museums throughout Renfrew County we celebrate the stories that have shaped the history of Canada."
On April 28, 2021, Dorothy Phillips, author and longtime HSO member, told us about researching and writing the story of the Duke of Devonshire during his time as Governor General of Canada.
If you missed the HSO presentation by Phil Jenkins (or you just want to watch again) check out his recap and reflections on the history of LeBreton Flats in this video from April 14, 2021.
Ottawa resident and award-winning author Charlotte Gray shared with us the story of the life and death of Sir Harry Oakes on March 31, 2021.
On March 10, 2021, Andrew King, Ottawa artist, cartoonist, columnist, and author of the Ottawa Rewind books and blog, shared some of his discoveries of long-hidden secrets from Ottawa's fascinating past.
The Day My Students Met Mandela: Nelson Mandela's Remarkable 1998 Visit to Ottawa
Wendy Alexis shared stories and memories with us on February 10, 2021, about the day that Nelson Mandela visited the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights monument in Ottawa.
Camp Woolsey: 80 Years of Life-Long Friendships & Memories
Share some memories of the Girl Guide Camp Woolsey in this HSO presentation by Emma Kent on January 13, 2021.
Rare film footage of Churchill's 1941 visit to Ottawa provided courtesy of Michael Evans.
Read about Churchill's visit in this recounting of the event by James Powell: Some Chicken, Some Neck - 29 December 1941.
Kettle Island: A Bridge to Ottawa's Past
Randy Boswell, Journalism Professor, Carleton University, explored the surprising history of Kettle Island in a virtual presentation to the Historical Society of Ottawa on December 2, 2020.
Uncovering Canada's Past: Digging up Parliament Hill
On November 18, 2020, Stephen Garrett, Project Manager of the archeological excavation of Parliament Hill in 2019, shared stories and discoveries from his work in a virtual presentation to the Historical Society of Ottawa.
Using Digital Tools to Explore and Share Ottawa's Past
At the HSO virtual presentation on October 14, 2020, Jo-Anne McCutcheon of the University of Ottawa shared with us how technology and digitization techniques of today can help us explore the past.
Michael Kent from Library and Archives Canada explores the history and documents found in the repositories of Jewish synagogues and cemeteries in Ottawa and around the world.
On September 14, 2020, Michael Kent, Curator of the Jacob M. Lowy Collection at Library and Archives Canada, spoke to members of the Historical Society of Ottawa and guests via our first ever “Zoom” presentation. Michael’s fascinating presentation explored the hidden treasures of the Geniza in Ottawa and around the world. The “Geniza” is the sacred storage area in a synagogue or cemetery used for the disposal of worn-out religious books and papers.
Hon. Alexander Mackenize
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie was Canada’s second Prime Minister, serving from 1873-78. Mackenzie was Leader of the Opposition until 1880 and then continued to sit as a Liberal MP until April 17, 1892 when he died from a stroke after suffering a fall at the age of 70.
This video was prepared for the Historical Society to celebrate Canada 150 and to raise awareness and appreciation of Mackenzie's life and times and contributions to Canada.
Funeral of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
The view in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa on Sussex Drive on 22 February 1919, Library and Archives Canada IDC: 94473
1920 - Film sequence from a visit to Ottawa
The film shows a woman receiving a letter from woman friend in Halifax followed by this friend arriving at the train station in Ottawa and being taken on a tour of the city in a convertible car.
1938 - Ottawa: Canada's Capital,
Library and Archives Canada
1939 - Royal Banners Over Ottawa
Visit to Ottawa by George VI and Queen Elizabeth
1940 - Odds and ends
from old footage of Ottawa
1941 - Ottawa on the River
A film about Ottawa in 1941
1946 - Byward Market
When Ottawa's Byward Market was a real market.
1968 - Touring Ottawa
Amateur film of from Maitland Avenue along the Queensway to downtown, around Parliament, to Champlain point, along the Ottawa River, Dows Lake and many other places in town.
This is an incomplete list of online sites that focus on Ottawa history. The Historical Society of Ottawa does not necessarily subscribe to the views expressed in these blogs, nor can it attest to their accuracy. The responsibility for the content of the websites remains with their authors.
Britannia, A History
"This site is about the community of Britannia in Ottawa, Canada. It is mostly about the history, but ... [i]t is incomplete and always will be. ... Really it is more like an encyclopedia of Britannia; a collection of articles and information, not a single, continuous story."
Capital Chronicles | History of the National Capital
"The History You Were Never Told" as recounted by Rick Henderson.
Capital History
Carleton’s Centre for Public History explores histories about people, places, and events in Ottawa’s National Capital Region. An ongoing history and heritage project that links Ottawa history with the city’s built environment.
Civic Hospital Neighbourhood
Documenting the community’s transition from forest and farmland to today’s urban environment.
Colin Churcher’s Railway Pages
"Welcome to my home page. I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I have been interested in railways for many years and have been fortunate to pursue a career in railways. In these pages I will be setting out various aspects of my interest."
French Life in the Capital
This exhibition brings to light significant events in the capital’s history where Francophones have helped shape the face of Ottawa.
A History of Ottawa East
"Published May, 2004 by the Old Ottawa East Community Association. Written in part and compiled by Rick Wallace. Technical Direction by David Walker"
House History Ottawa - A project by M.S. Lowell and D. Lafranchise
"M.S. Lowell, (1961-) started doing house histories in 1989. He has conducted 23 various Ottawa House History projects in the past 15 years. Marc is originally from Toronto and is self-taught. Marc has also done work in geneaolgy. He is listed on the Library and Archives Canada Freelance Researchers list. D. Lafranchise (1952-) is a retired Civil Servant from Ottawa who has a major interest in Ottawa History."
The Kitchissippi Museum
A blog about west Ottawa's little-known history, with stories, photos and information covering the fascinating history of the historic Kitchissippi neighbourhoods.
Lebreton Flats Remembered
"Reflections on the history of a vanished community. Our mission, rekindle memories of a lost legacy."
Lost Ottawa
"Lost Ottawa is a Facebook research community devoted to images of Ottawa and the Outaouais up to the year 2000. Anyone can join. Just "Like" the page."
Ottawa's Bygone Buildings
Through the years, Ottawa has seen many buildings come and go. Some were lost to fire, some demolished for the expansion of parkland, roads and other improvements while others were removed to make way for newer buildings.
This project includes an online map showing the outline footprint of buildings which existed in 1912 but no longer exist today. Each footprint contains information and photos of these buildings.
Ottawa Family Tree
"When Jean Cadieux, a locksmith, made his way from Luché, in the Loire Valley of France to Montréal, during 1653, the first of my ancestors set foot upon the North American continent. It was a wild ride .. literally! .. from then, as the fur trader Antoine Cadieux made his way across the rapids of the Ottawa River before settling down with a family in Quyon, QC. This blog pays tribute to these ancestors’ courage and daring under the rubric that every family’s story is worth telling and ought to be passed along! The purpose of this blog is to share across the internet information on the O’Connor, Doyle, Dolan, Killeen, Kelly, O’Callaghan, Cadieux, Frood, Wilson and McEwan families found in researching the family tree."
Ottawahh
A personal blog with many descriptions and historical photographs of Ottawa's past.
Ottawa Past and Present
"A few decades ago, Ottawa was drastically different: Sparks Street was thriving, people were actually living downtown and at LeBreton Flats and a train could bring you to the heart of the city. The narrow and institutionalized vision of bureaucrats, the rapid expansion of car use, and a generalized neglect of architectural heritage changed the urban fabric of the Capital. The Gréber Plan and the NCC transformed Ottawa for the worse. One building at a time. We promote intensification and discourage sprawl. We are not against tall buildings, but we have a lot to say about bad design. This website is not strictly about heritage preservation, but rather what goes down the drain when those older buildings are demolished and streets are denatured."
Ottawa Police Service - Lives Tragically Lost in the Line of Duty
Follow this link as we join in honouring those police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while working to keep Ottawa’s streets safe.
Ottawa Rewind
"Hello, welcome to Ottawa Rewind, a blog dedicated to stories that I think are pretty cool about Ottawa and the surrounding area. Pull up a chair, grab a drink and enjoy the ride as we rewind some time…"
Ottawa Start: History
"Photographs of Ottawa that capture the way of life up to about 1970. Much of the city has changed over time with growth and loss of heritage and street life"
Sandy Hill Stories
by François Bregha — Sandy Hill has a rich history that can still be seen in many of the mansions that grace the neighbourhood or in street names that recall former activities.
Stanley Brede
Photographer and cinematographer who was stationed at Rockcliffe with the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII and had a long career with Crawley Films, Ottawa.
The Margins of History
A personal ramble through the history of Ottawa.
Today in Ottawa’s History
"The purpose of this blog is to provide readers with a brief account of an interesting or important event that happened in Ottawa’s history on a given day of the year. Ultimately, my objective is to have an article for every day of the year. While I will try to cover the highlights of each event, the brevity of the articles precludes a lot of detail and analysis. If readers wish to explore a topic in more detail, the sources listed at the end of each story will provide a useful starting point for research."
Urbsite
A blog on a variety of Ottawa historical topics.
Vanished Ottawa
A blog on abandoned buildings, fading buildings and buildings long gone from Ottawa.
Vintage Ottawa
"Nostalgic look at Ottawa's past be it buildings, people, events, houses or more."
Workers' History Museum
Dedicated to the development and preservation of workers’ history and heritage in the National Capital Region and Ottawa Valley with a goal to present, promote, interpret, and preserve workers’ history, heritage, and culture.
Canadian National Digital Heritage Index (The)
"The Canadian National Digital Heritage Index (CNDHI) is an index of digitized Canadian heritage collections located at Canadian universities and provincial and territorial libraries. Supported by funding from Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, CNDHI is designed to increase awareness of, and access to digital heritage collections in Canada, to support the academic research enterprise and to facilitate information sharing within the Canadian documentary heritage community."
Canadiana Collections
"With the support of major memory institutions, CRKN identifies, catalogues, and digitizes documentary heritage—books, newspapers, periodicals, images and nationally-significant archival materials—in specialized searchable databases."
CBC Historical Archives
"The CBC Archives is a unique collaboration of creative teams in Toronto working together with archivists and educational writers across Canada."
Capital Heritage Connexion
The Capital Heritage Connexion/Patrimoine de la Capitale is an umbrella organization serving heritage stakeholders in Canada’s Capital area. The CHC plays a leading role in developing and sustaining Ottawa’s heritage sector and ensuring local residents have access to heritage.
City of Ottawa Archives
"Discover Ottawa's hidden treasures. Explore more than three million photographs, research your home or family and bring the past into the present. The caretakers of Ottawa’s documentary history, the City of Ottawa Archives, are mandated to preserve original documents on behalf of past and future generations. Ottawa’s history lives here. Uncover and discover for yourself."
Cumberland Township Historical Society
The Cumberland Township Historical Society is a non-profit, volunteer and community-based organization whose goal is to preserve Cumberland Township history.
Gloucester Historical Society
"An organization for preserving and promoting the history of the former Gloucester Township."
Glengarry History
"Glengarry History has been formed ... with the intent of acting as a liaison and partnership group for other organizations active in the area of preserving the history of Glengarry."
Goulbourn Township Historical Society
"Welcome to the Goulbourn Township Historical Society – a community group dedicated to the history of the former Goulbourn Township, now amalgamated into the City of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.If you have ties with Goulbourn, or are interested in history generally, you might Richmond-Fair-2010 for webwant to join us."
Heritage Ottawa
"We are a group of dedicated volunteers who are passionate in our commitment to promote awareness, appreciation and preservation of outstanding examples of historic buildings and places in Ottawa and the National Capital Region."
Huntley Township Historical Society
"The Huntley Township Historical Society was formed in 1985 ... [t]o collect historical and genealogical material and establish a repository of information and artifacts on the former Huntley Township for research purposes and as a contribution to Canadian history, and to publish and display related materials."
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada’s "mandate is as follows: to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations; to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society; to facilitate in Canada co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge; to serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions."
Ottawa Public Library Ottawa Room
A centralized information resource about Ottawa and surrounding areas, both past and present, that helps preserve Ottawa’s written heritage for researchers and for residents with a passion for local history. The collection includes over 15,000 items that can be consulted free of charge. Main Library, 3rd floor.
Ottawa South History Project
"We are a group of local amateur historians whose interest is to research, document, and present facts and information about the history of Old Ottawa South in a fun and informative way."
The Rideau Canal
"is a non-commercial site run (and paid for) on a hobby basis by Ken Watson."
The Rideau Township Historical Society
"Preserving and promoting local history for the former Rideau Township."
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