The museum holds one of the largest collections of Indigenous materials in Canada, spanning over 17,000 items.
Its Notman Photographic Archives contain over 1.4 million images, including works by the renowned 19th-century photographer William Notman.
The collection includes one of the largest archives of Canadian dress, fashion, and textile history.
It was formed by the 2013 merger of the McCord Museum and the Stewart Museum, combining extensive social and military history collections.
The McCord Museum was originally founded in 1921 based on the private collection of lawyer David Ross McCord.
The institution features a digital repository that provides public access to a significant portion of its digitized catalog.
The building was specifically renovated to integrate the collections of both foundational museums into a cohesive exhibition space.
The McCord Stewart Museum is dedicated to the social and cultural history of Montreal, Quebec, and Canada. It houses an extensive collection of over 200,000 objects, including Indigenous artifacts, textiles, and historical photographs. The institution emphasizes diverse perspectives through its focus on Montreal's development and the heritage of First Nations and Inuit peoples. Located in the heart of the city, it occupies a building formerly used by the McGill University Faculty of Divinity. Rotating exhibitions frequently highlight contemporary social issues alongside archival documentation. The museum is recognized for its comprehensive photographic archives, which capture the evolution of Quebec's visual landscape. It functions as a research center with specialized collections in decorative arts and material culture.
The museum's grand staircase and the modern, light-filled architectural transition areas.
Check the museum's digital portal before your visit to preview current temporary exhibitions.
Allocate time to browse the museum shop, which specializes in locally sourced artisan crafts and historical publications.
Utilize the audio-guided tours often available via mobile devices to gain deeper context on the Indigenous history galleries.
Attempting to view the entire collection in one visit; focus on one or two key exhibitions instead.
Closed on Mondays.
