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PO Box 523, Station B,
Ottawa, ON, K1P 5P6

PO Box 523, Station B, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5P6
Slide 1 - With Welcome Message - Bottom

Lady and Lord Aberdeen with the National Council of Women at Rideau Hall, shortly before their return to the United Kingdom, October 1898, Topley Studios/Library and Archives Canada, PA-029033

Truss Bridge over the Chaudière Falls, Ottawa River, watercolour by John Burrows, 1828, Library and Archives Canada, I.D. No. 2833217.

Welcome

The Historical Society of Ottawa (HSO) is Ottawa’s oldest historical organization.The principal aim of the Society is to increase public knowledge of the history of Ottawa and the surrounding region through meetings, tours, awards, publications, and sponsored research.

Historical Society Articles

  • The Era of Bytown

    29 April 2026 Speakers Presentations
    On April 25, 2026, the Society hosted the third presentation of its Bytown200 series. It followed a February presentation by Dr. Lynn Gehl on the past, present and future of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin of the Ottawa Valley, and one in March by Allison Margot Smith who gave a screening of…

  • Ruth Hall-McMillan

    27 April 2026 Society News
    Ruth Hall-McMillan’s immense contributions to the Historical Society of Ottawa spanned four decades. Ruth passed away on December 8 2025, at the age of 93. Inspired by Ottawa’s 150th anniversary in 1976, with the encouragement of HSO, Ruth produced a magnificent series of oil paintings, a collection called “The Rideau Canal…

  • The HSO 2026 Bytown200 Bicentennial Storytelling Challenge

    13 April 2026 Society News
    Let’s hear your stories about Bytown and the Rideau Canal as we begin to mark 2026, the 200th anniversary of the beginning of both! All contributions are welcome. Selected submissions will be shared on a special webpage on the HSO website for all to access, including educators. Eligible contributions can…

  • The Origins of the Rideau Canal

    30 March 2026 Speakers Presentations
    On Saturday March 28, 2026, Allison Margot Smith gave a film-screening of her recent film “Two Wars, Three Watersheds, a Slew of Surveys and a Canal.” The film describes the history of the Rideau Canal, and in particular, the planning of the route of the canal, starting in the 1780s.…
See all articles

Upcoming Events

May 2 2026
French-language
1:00PM
Ottawa Public Library, St-Laurent Branch, 515 Coté Street

Le coeur de mère Elisabeth Bruyère

May 31 2026
Special Events
2:30PM
1918 Chaudière Crossing, Ottawa, ON – North side of Wellington St at Booth Street / Chaudière Bridge

I-Tour National Holocaust Monument

Jun 9 2026
Special Events
5:30PM
Beechwood Cemetery

Meet the Founders of Bytown

280 Beechwood Ave. Vanier ON

Jun 14 2026
Special Events
1:30PM
Beechwood Cemetery

Meet the Founders of Bytown

280 Beechwood Ave. Vanier ON

View Full Calendar

Ottawa Stories

Ottawa has an interesting and varied history.
Enjoy stories from our Bytown and Rideau Canal Bicentennial collection or discover other Ottawa stories.

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