Laurier House is a quieter political museum than Parliament Hill, but in some ways more intimate. The house was home to Sir Wilfrid Laurier and later William Lyon Mackenzie King, so its rooms tell the story of Canadian politics through furniture, domestic habits, and personal objects rather than grand ceremony.
The site is in Sandy Hill, close enough to combine with a walk through one of Ottawa's older neighbourhoods. It rewards visitors who like historic houses and political context; if you only want big symbols, Parliament will do the louder work.