What
You Should Know
Millions of manuscripts, photographs, films,
maps, paintings and drawings are preserved at the National Archives so
that our history can be passed on to future generations.
Location
395 Wellington street at Bay, Ottawa.
The
headquarters building of the National Archives of Canada is located at
395 Wellington Street, in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, a few blocks west of
the Parliament Buildings and next
to the Supreme Court of Canada. Limited
visitor parking is available on the west side of the building (2 hour maximum).
Street and pay parking is available in the vicinity.
Dates
year
round
Times
Registration Desk, Reference Room and Consultation
Room:
8:30 a.m.
- 5 p.m. Monday - Friday (excluding statutory holidays)
Reading Room:
8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday
to Friday (excluding statutory holidays)
8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays
Exhibition Room:
9 a.m. - 9.p.m. daily
Cost
Free
Services
Wheelchair access and facilities,
washrooms, cafeteria (open weekdays), exhibition room, limited parking.
Contact
National
Archives of Canada
395 Wellington
Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N3
General information:
613-996-5115 or 1-866-578-7777
TTD: 613-947-0391
Reference Services:
613-992-3884
Genealogy Reference:
613-996-7458
FAX: 613-995-6274
Did
You Know?
-
The Archives
has many private letters and diaries. For example, it has a letter Louis
Riel wrote to his family and the diaries of former Prime Minister Mackenzie
King.
-
The Archives
has an extensive collection of maps. The earliest printed map to show the
name 'Canada' dates to 1560.
-
The Archives
keeps the records of the government of Canada. By law, government and ministerial
documents cannot be destroyed without the consent of the National Archivist.
-
The National
Archives has a special service for people researching their family histories.
Nearly 80% of visitors to the Archives are genealogists.
-
The National
Archives has a new building in the Capital Region which is considered the
most advanced archival storage facility in the world.
Canada's
Collective Memory
The
National Archives of Canada is a treasure chest holding tens of millions
of public and private documents. The Archives' vast collections include:
-
Manuscripts:
These are unpublished records such as papers, files, letters and diaries
of everyone from prime ministers to poets, scientists to sorcerers. There
are manuscripts relating to individuals, communities and organizations.
-
Government
Records: As the official record keeper for the Government of Canada, the
National Archives holds nearly 70 kilometres of records relating to the
official business of the country. Personnel records for former military
or public service employees are also kept.
-
Documentary
Art: The National Archives is not an art gallery but it does have many
original works of art, posters and other visual materials that are of historical
interest.
-
Photography:
One of the best known parts of the Archives is its collection of more than
20 million photographs of Canada's people, places and events. The collection
ranges from daguerreotypes and tintypes to contemporary colour images.
-
Audiovisual
Materials: Historic film, video and sound recordings are often called on
by film and documentary makers. The Archives preserves audio-visual materials
produced by government departments, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,
film and broadcasting companies, and individuals.
-
Maps and
Architectural Holdings: The National Archives holds over 2 million maps,
charts, atlases, globes, architectural and engineering drawings, blueprints
and plans.
-
Philatelic
Records: The Archives keeps stamps, stamp designs and artwork as well as
prints and negatives, manuscripts, and papers relating to postal history
-
Caricatures:
The political cartoons you see in the paper have always been powerful commentaries
on the times. The Archives has an extensive collection of caricatures from
the 18th century to the present.
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a Virtual Tour
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Ottawa · Attractions
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Choose
from these Attractions: 
The
National Archives is Canada's memory bank. Here you can discover the story
of Canada, not as it is interpreted in history books, but through direct
contact with original documents from the past. The Archives' preserves
tens of millions of records ranging from personal photographs to official
government documents. The National Archives of Canada is open to all researchers,
whether professional or amateur. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the
exhibitions.