Musée des hospitalières de l'Hotel Dieu de Montréal — Attraction in Montreal

For $10 for adults, this is a great little museum filled with history of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, artifacts of Saint-Joseph, and explores the history of healthcare and health sciences (nuns taking care of those in need at the hospital and running the pharmacy.

The first room is a bit of history between the First Nations People + Chomeday. (And Marie De La Ferre and the Hospitallers of Saint Joseph, hospital care).

Paintings, carvings, needlepoint, textiles, metal (gold, silver, etc church artifacts) + other relics (personal letters, furniture, dolls, headdress and even a "cell" where the sisters would sleep has been set up here) with plaques in French/English help guide you through the history.

The second floor is dedicated more to the history of surgery, surgical tools, those that performed the surgeries and the buildings. Example, William H. Hingston, a pioneer in plastic-surgery, was among the first to do skin grafting and one of the first to use the microscope.

Also upstairs, there is a room that talks about the transformation between a French speaking city and then a swing to a more British/English society (due to an epidemic and sharp increase if English births). As you swing to the right it talks in length about the different types of church architecture and who was behind building them

Fascinating part of this bit of Montreal history. If you live here, have more than a few days or have even the slightest bit of interest in these subjects well worth 2 hours of your time and again the...

This museum chronicles a fascinating chapter of Montréal’s history, focusing on the evolution of healthcare in the city. The exhibits are very detailed and well-presented. I was very happy with my experience and felt I learned quite a lot while I was here.

I feel this museum is best suited for visitors with a genuine interest in history, medicine, or religious institutions. Its focus is specific, and those without a natural curiosity about these themes might find it less engaging. It’s not necessarily the best fit for families seeking an entertaining day out or tourists checking off must-see attractions. However, for the reflective traveler or the lifelong learner, it’s a hidden gem well...

Having visited Montreal many times I thought I'd seen almost all the museums. I came upon this one and didn't see too much about it online. I almost didn't go but it was only 15 minutes from our hotel. What a surprise! Smaller collection but rich with Canadian medical history, art and ephemera. I absolutely loved it and was completely fascinated. If you enjoy the TV programs The Knick or Call the Midwife this is a MUST SEE. So unique and you only need an hour or so. Highly...