Musée de la Civilisation (Museum of Civilization)

Musée de la Civilisation (Museum of Civilization) Review

Wedged between narrow streets at the foot of the cliff, this spacious museum with a striking limestone-and-glass facade was artfully designed by architect Moshe Safdie to blend into the landscape. Its campanile echoes the shape of the city's church steeples. Two excellent permanent exhibits at the museum examine Québec's history. "People of Québec, Now and Then" engagingly synthesizes 400 years of social and political history—including the role of the Catholic church and the rise of the separatist movement—with artifacts, time lines, original films and interviews, and news clips. It's a great introduction to the issues that face the province today. The "Nous, les Premières Nations" (We, the First Nations) exhibit looks at the 11 aboriginal nations that inhabit Québec. Several of the shows, with their imaginative use of artwork, video screens, computers, and sound, appeal to both adults and children.