A Museum Finale

When World War One broke out, Ottawa answered the call. Local men mustered into newly forming regiments that would become part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and fight in the trenches of Europe, where in time they would do things that simply could not be done- but do them nonetheless. 

Canadian women signed up too, going into nursing positions primarily, and seeing the carnage from another point of view.

Some of the artifacts of that time are in the Bytown Museum's collection.

A last look up here.

At the top of the stairs for the third floor are three display cases, with Ottawa over time displayed on three dimensional maps. This first one is of Bytown in 1832, with the Canal newly built and including a retaining pond where Confederation Park is today. Few roads, little activity- but one building at lower right. A church that grew into Notre Dame. It's the only building present in all three maps.

Ottawa in 1888 had grown substantially. Notre Dame looks much more like a cathedral, and Parliament Hill has replaced the structures of what had been Barrack's Hill at the end of the Canal project.

And in 1918, even more change. The retaining pond of the Canal is much smaller (today it's gone), and the downtown core of the city is more established.

I took my leave of the Museum, and passed under Plaza Bridge, built high over the remaining foundation stones of the old Sappers Bridge.

I'd bought a couple of coffee table books at the Museum, on Ottawa and the Canal, as well as a DVD on the Canal. I also bought another pair of novelty socks, looking like skates. This despite the fact that I can't skate.