Also known as: Le Musée des beaux-arts du Canada Formerly: La Galerie nationale du Canada Built: 1983-1988 Designed by: Moshe Safdie Type: Museum Location: 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada
C anada is well known for its snow, its hockey, and its natural beauty. And in recent years, Canada has become known for its arts. From radio and television to painting, sculpture, and photography this country's relatively small population is turning out an amazing amount of great art. With all those artists, a national gallery is sure to follow, and this is it. The Canadian National Gallery not only sports works by domestic artists, but also Dutch masters, impressionists, and a full spectrum of arts. The building, itself is a work of art with a glass dome that echoes the nearby parliament buildings in much the same way that so much Canadian art reflects the country's natural beauty. It pays homage to the ancient arts through a glass and stone colonnade extending along its longest side. It has a clean, futuristic feel with a number of galleries radiating from the central Great Hall. But this isn't a case of heritage lost. The entire Rideau Chapel, built in the 1800's, has been preserved inside the building. It has the only neo-Gothic fan vaulted ceiling in North America. The National Gallery is a building of which Canadians can feel proud, whether viewed from inside or out.
6 March, 1880: The first National Gallery of Canada is started by Governor General the Marquess of Lorne. It is housed at the Clarendon Hotel in Ottawa.
1882: The National Gallery moves to workshop on Parliament Hill, sharing space with the Canadian Supreme Court.
1888: The National Gallery moves to a second floor space on O'Connor Street. The first floor is occupied by the Government Fisheries Exhibit.
1911: The National Gallery moves to the Victoria Memorial Museum, sharing space with the Department of Mines and the Canadian Geological Survey.
1916: The National Gallery is closed. The space is needed by the Victoria Memorial Museum because of a fire.
1921: The National Gallery reopens.
1951: A competition is held to come up with a design for a new National Gallery to be built on Cartier Square. It is abandoned in favor of moving the Gallery into an office building.
1959: Construction begins on the National Gallery's Lorne Building.
1960: The National Gallery moves to the Lorne Building.
1976: A competition is held to come up with a design for another new National Gallery.
1983: Construction begins on the new National Gallery on Sussex Drive.
7 September, 1987: The Lorne Building closes.
1988: The new National Gallery of Canada building opens.
Rob S
Five stars.