One of the best museums in Canada, and the best argument against the idea that Québec City is only about old buildings. The Musée de la civilisation opened in 1988 in a building by Moshe Safdie that inserted contemporary architecture into the Lower Town without embarrassment. The permanent collection and temporary exhibitions cover Québec's Indigenous history, French settlement, colonial-era culture, and contemporary Québécois society with depth and sophistication.
The permanent exhibition on the First Nations of Québec is particularly strong, presenting Indigenous history and culture as living traditions rather than museum objects. The building incorporates an archaeological site — the remains of an 18th-century warehouse — visible behind glass in the entrance hall. Allow three to four hours. Free admission for children under 12.