Museums

Resources – Museums

It is our intention that the CCFMS be the go-to resource for rockhounding and lapidary for our CCFMS-affiliated clubs (located in Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec). These resources are curated and maintained by the Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies for the benefit of its affiliated clubs.

Check out our other Resource pages: Resources – References, Resources – Collecting Sites, Resources – Educational and Resources – Incorporation

If you notice a broken link, please let us know in the comments section at the bottom of the homepage. Feel free to also explore the French Resource pages.

Museums

The Canadian museums listed below offer exhibits and educational programs that highlight geology, minerals, and fossils.

Manitoba

Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre https://discoverfossils.com/

Morden, MB
The galleries at this property provide a great interpretation of life in the Western Interior Seaway from the late Cretaceous period of Earth’s natural history. The extensive collection of marine reptile fossils – one of which is 13 metres (43 feet) long – is the largest in Canada, and is very well represented in the public galleries. The Centre also offers fossil dig programs.

Lynn Lake Mining Town Museum
https://www.travelmanitoba.com/directory/lynn-lake-mining-town-museum/

Lynn Lake, MB
The community of Lynn Lake owes its creation to the discovery of a huge nickel deposit in the 1940s. The museum contains mining exploration equipment used in the 1950s; artifacts from the great move: In the 1950s 45,000 tonnes (50,000 tons) of buildings and equipment that made up the town of Sherridon were transported 265 km (165 miles) by tractors to what would be called Lynn Lake. It also has memorabilia typical of local history. See Linn tractors and cat trains that played an important role in building the north. Open June through August.

Manitoba Museum
https://manitobamuseum.ca/

Winnipeg, MB
The Manitoba Museum has long been a centre for collections and knowledge related to the Earth and the history of life. Significant collections include Manitoba minerals, fossils from the Ordovician Period (445-450 million years old), marine fossils from the Cretaceous Period (70-100 million years old), and ice-age mammals. There are also minerals and fossils of almost every age from all over the world.

University of Manitoba Museum (University of Manitoba – Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of
Environment, Earth, and Resources – Department of Geological Sciences – Museums
https://umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources/ed-leith-cretaceous-menagerie

Winnipeg, MB
The University of Manitoba has a gathering place, called the Menagerie, in the main foyer of the Wallace Building. It contains four spectacular skeletal replicas of gigantic creatures of the Cretaceous Period as well as several interpretative panels. Many of the specimens of the University’s mineral collection are also exhibited there, as well
as in cabinets lining the corridor of the main floor of the Wallace Building.

Snow Lake Mining Museum
https://www.snowlake.com/p/mb-star-attraction-mining-museum

Snow Lake, MB
The Snow Lake Mining Museum has authentic exhibits of heavy-duty mining artifacts such as drills, mucking machines, old mine rescue equipment and old maps. See a replica of a raise and a drift, a painting of a cross-section of a mine, and clothing the miners wore. Open June 21 to Labour Day; plus spring and fall by appointment.

Ontario

Arkona Lions Museum and Information Centre
https://www.ontbluecoast.com/listing/arkona-lions-museum-information-centre/

Arkona, ON
Located at the Rock Glen Conservation Area, the museum hosts displays including Devonian fossils such as brachiopods, gastropods, crinoids and horn coral as well as artifacts. Open in May, Sept, Oct. on weekends or by appointment. Open daily (except Tuesday) in June , and daily in July and August.

Bancroft Mineral Museum
https://bancroftontario.com/bancroft-attractions/bancroft-mineral-museum/

Bancroft, ON
The Bancroft Mineral Museum is housed in the fully restored heritage train station. It is owned and operated by the Bancroft Gem and Mineral Club. Exhibits describe the history of the mining in the area, and there are more than 400 exceptional mineral specimens from the area on display in the 1,200 square-foot showroom.

Canadian Museum of Nature
https://nature.ca/

Ottawa, ON
The Canadian Museum of Nature has many different collections, but its collections of minerals, fossils and gemstones are exceptional. Although not all on display, there are more than 140,000 fossil specimens including the first dinosaur material found in Canada; and mineral specimens from Canada and around the world. The mineral collection was enhanced by the addition of the renowned Pinch and Hainault collections, and is heavily used by the research community. There is also a wonderful collection of faceted stones, cabochons and carvings.

Cobalt Mining Museum
https://cobalt.ca/visitors/museums/#tab-1415899045-1-30f7a1-8bcbe34f-0c90

Cobalt, ON
There is a wonderful display of native silver from the historic mines in the Cobalt area, plus other mineral samples, which – when viewed under ultraviolet light – present a rich array of colours. The Mayor’s Chain of Office, with almost 2 kg (4 pounds) of silver is displayed at the museum. There are also artifacts, paintings, and photographs dating back to the early days of the silver rush. Open seasonally.

Crystal Cave https://www.crystalcavecanada.com/

South River, ON
The Crystal Cave hosts the rock, mineral, and fossil collections of Julia and John Breckenridge. The specimens have been collected from a wide variety of countries although many are local to Ontario. The property also hosts a crystal and mineral shop, and offers education programs to groups, by appointment.

Dynamic Earth https://www.sciencenorth.ca/dynamic-earth

Sudbury, ON
Dynamic Earth is an interactive earth science museum that builds on the city’s mining heritage, focusing principally on its unique geological and mining history. Dynamic Earth offers underground tours of a demonstration mine, along with hands-on science activities and video presentations. The property is home to the Big Nickel, one of the city’s most famous landmarks, as well as an outdoor science park. Dynamic Earth is open seasonally, from February to October

RockWalk Park
https://rockwalkpark.ca/

Haileybury, ON
RockWalk Park is an outdoor exhibit located on the grounds of Northern College (the former Haileybury School of Mines) in Temiskaming Shores. It has almost 200 geological specimens ranging from 3 to 45 tonnes (3.5 to 50 tons) in size, representing the geology and ore deposits from across Canada.

Miller Museum of Geology https://www.queensu.ca/millermuseumofgeology/

Kingston, ON
The Miller Museum is located in the Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Its galleries are open for self-guided tours on weekdays, and educational programs are available for local schools and natural-science interest groups by appointment.

Metcalfe Geoheritage Park
https://metcalfegeoheritagepark.com/

Almonte, ON
Metcalfe Geoheritage Park has a colour brochure with a site map to use as a guide to specimens that tell the story of the local geology. The 22 specimens on permanent display include sedimentary rocks of Ordovician age, and igneous and metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age. There is also a black and white leaflet for “guest rocks” that are on temporary display

Oil Museum of Canada
https://www.lambtonmuseums.ca/en/oil-museum-of-canada/oil-museum-of-canada.aspx

Oil Springs, ON
Located at the site of the first commercial oil production in North America in 1858, this museum has a gallery with exhibits about the formation of oil; the evolution of lamps and lubricants; pioneering drilling practices, tools and refining; and the life of
an historic oil town. There are several outbuildings with large-scale vintage equipment and reproductions, and a self-directed audio driving tour. The museum is open from May through October

Ontario Science Centre https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/

Toronto, ON
The science centre has several hundred interactive and passive permanent exhibits, featuring geology, the science of nature, astronomical science, how to play music and technology, human anatomy, communication and bias, and some miscellaneous
artifacts of science. It also hosts traveling exhibits.

Royal Ontario Museum  https://www.rom.on.ca/collections-research/natural-history

Toronto, ON
The museum’s collections make up one of the largest holdings of natural history specimens in Canada. Close to 3,000 exceptional specimens of minerals, gems, meteorites and rocks from all over the Earth, the Moon, and beyond that represent a
collection among the finest in North America. Many are on display, along with spectacular dinosaur fossils, and fossils of extinct mammals.

Science North https://www.sciencenorth.ca/science-north

Sudbury, ON
Science North, Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction, consists of two snowflake-shaped buildings connected by a rock tunnel on the southwestern shore of Ramsey Lake. The centre includes an Imax theatre, a 3D theatre, a planetarium, and a butterfly gallery along with a wide range of interactive exhibits that focus on
the northern environment and technology.

University of Waterloo Earth Science Museum
https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/

Waterloo, ON
This free museum was started as a Canadian centennial project and has been part of the university’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences outreach program for over 50 years. It includes exhibits and a wide range of programming
including lectures; hands-on geological activities; an outdoor rock garden with over 50 large specimens; and podcasts and other on-line resources.

Quebec

Redpath Museum https://www.mcgill.ca/redpath/

Montreal, QC
The Redpath Museum is a museum of natural history that belongs to McGill University, and is located on the university’s campus. It was built in 1882 as a gift
from the sugar baron Peter Redpath. It houses collections related to mineralogy, geology, paleontology, biology, and ethnology. The collections were started by some of the same individuals who founded the Smithsonian and Royal Ontario Museum collections. The museum is located in the oldest building in Canada built specifically to be a museum.

Horne Mining Museum
https://www.glencore.ca/en/horne/developpement-durable/visiter-la-fonderie-horne

Rouyn–Noranda, QC
Discover the secrets of copper processing by visiting one of the world’s most specialized smelters. You’ll begin your visit in the impressive guest house, where prominent figures in mining, metallurgy, and politics have stayed. Next, you’ll head to the metallurgical installations where the Horne Mining Museum will share the secrets of the history of Edmund Horne, the prospector who discovered the huge copper–gold deposit that bears his name. Then, you’ll visit the heart of the copper processing operations in the smelter, where you’ll see copper flow.

Musée mineralogique de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
https://www.museemalartic.qc.ca/en/index.cfm

Malartic, QC
The museum presents a geology and regional mining exhibit as well as minerals from around the world. Various interactive games and many other features such as an earthquake simulator, an actual lunar rock and spectacular gold samples all make up this family-friendly exhibit.

Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Sciences https://mns2.ca/en/

Sherbrooke, QC
In the Fall of 2002, after a 120-year history the Musée du Séminaire de Sherbrooke moved into a newly renovated building and became the Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Sciences. The museum’s collection of over 65,000 objects and specimens represents the diversity of the fauna and flora of Quebec as well as elsewhere in North America and around the world. These items include
specimens of amphibians, reptiles and fish, birds, plants and animals, along with fossils, rocks and minerals, scientific instruments, and archaeological items.

Fossilarium
https://www.fossiles.ca/en/

Notre-dame-du-Nord, QC
The Notre-Dame-du-Nord Fossilarium, is a museum with a large collection of fossils from around the world. It has been in a building specially designed for this purpose since 1997, although the collection it presents is the work of geologist, Andrée Nault, who began collecting fossils in 1988. The museum offers a wide range of activities and services, including visits and excursions, fossil collecting, temporary and permanent exhibitions, and finally scientific information.

La Maison Léon-Provancher https://maisonleonprovancher.com/

Cap Rouge, QC
TSince 1990, La Maison Léon-Provancher has continued the educational work of this great naturalist. The museum has a permanent exhibition entitled Naturoscope – Cap, on biodiversity. It includes specimens of stuffed birds and insects, as well as some mammals. In addition to partially displaying Provancher’s scientific work, the exhibition aims to familiarize the public with
scientific methods. A collection of live animals, with some amphibians, reptiles and insects, is present in the basement of the establishment.

The Capelton Mine
https://www.capelton.ca/

Canton de Hatley, QC
This recreational-tourist site highlights the historical heritage of the industrial mining complex of the Albert, Capelton and Eustis region. Explore an old copper mine from 1863 in complete safety, in the company of a guide who will give you the full story of the history of this wonderful world. A walking tour full of discoveries and underground beauties awaits you!