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| - "You're going to an archaeology museum?"
This was the question I was asked by my significant other when she learned I would be visiting Pointe-a-Calliere during my trip to Montreal.
Having done my research on the attractions I wanted to visit during my trip to Montreal, I decided that Pointe-a-Calliere looked interesting enough to add to my itinerary.
The Museum gives visitors a great chance to explore the history and evolution of the City of Montreal. Built over the remains of Montreal's original buildings, Pointe-a-Calliere gives visitors a lot of information in a very short amount of time.
Starting in the main building, there's a 20 minute video in a huge auditorium that gives a fun overview of the history of Montreal. There's headphones to listen to the narration, which is offered in over ten languages. Some reviewers have claimed the video seems like it was made by the Office of Tourism, and that's very accurate. It's almost sales-pitchy.
After the video, head downstairs to the ruins of Old Montreal. The stone foundations of the city's original buildings are in the basement, and lining the walls are artifacts uncovered at the site. As an FYI, it's pretty confusing to get to where you should start your exploration of the site. The museum could do with better signage and maybe some more staff.
An underground tunnel leads across the street to the museum's second building. While I visited, the special exhibit theme was all about the Beatles in Montreal. A cool exhibition with lots of memorabilia, but I'd have enjoyed it more if I was a Beatles fan. That said, lots of older folks were rocking out to the videos and audio recordings being played.
If you're a history nerd like I am, you'll enjoy this museum. If you're a casual museum-goer or tourist, this may not be for you. Having said that, if you've got time in your itinerary, definitely check out Pointe-a-Calliere. It'll help you understand how Montreal came to be the city that it is today.
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