Ottawa's Canada Science And Technology Museum Re-Opens With Auto Highlights

By Chris Chase

Nov 16, 2017

Car News

Summary

Science returns to the capital

Ottawa's Canada Science and Technology Museum has re-opened to the public in time for its 50th anniversary after a two-year renovation and expansion of its collection.

The museum was forced to close its doors in the fall of 2014 after maintenance staff discovered mold in the walls, a revelation that kicked off an $80 million revamp of the building and the exhibits housed within.

A collection of 2,900 artifacts includes a number of transportation-related exhibits that include Canada's first car, the Henry Seth Taylor Steam Carriage of 1867, and an example of the new Ford GT sports car on loan to the museum from local owner Richard L'Abbe.

Naturally, the museum is still home to a number of steam locomotives. You can no longer climb into the cabs, but a virtual reality rig lets you explore and operate the controls of these iron beasts.

While the museum building -- a former commercial bakery -- is essentially unrecognizable following its refresh, it remains at its east-end location, at the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Lancaster Road.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.