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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.

Timber raft on the Ottawa River, date unknown, John William Woolsey and family fonds, Library and Archives Canada, I.D. No. 319157.

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

  • Museum Club Visit to Merrickville

    23 July 2024 Special Events
    The third Museum Club outing took place on Thursday, July 18, 2024, when a dozen registered participants, and two “foundlings” received a guided tour of the Merrickville Blockhouse Museum from our host, Jane Graham, who is the President of the Merrickville & District Historical Society (MDHS).  Jane explained that the…

  • The Final Demise of the Last Remnant of Dow’s Great Swamp

    23 June 2024 Society News
    Most of us think of “Dow’s Swamp” as having disappeared during the construction of the Rideau Canal, two centuries ago, leaving us with what we know today as “Dow’s Lake”. But did you know that a remaining southern portion of Dow’s Swamp continued to thrive until Ottawa’s ever-expanding urban footprint…

  • Paul Couvrette and the Karsh Brothers

    17 May 2024 Speakers Presentations
    A record crowd of 130 came to hear Paul Couvrette’s Historical Society of Ottawa presentation on the Karsh brothers which was held at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library on the afternoon of April 27, 2024. Paul, a celebrated Ottawa photographer, was both a professional colleague and family…

  • A Winnipeg Boy’s Imaginings

    5 May 2024 Society News
    HSO is pleased to showcase the writings of Barry Padolsky, architect, urban designer, heritage advocate, and Winnipeg native. From Barry himself, an introduction to this venture: Friends and colleagues, I am pleased to share “A Winnipeg Boy’s Imaginings” (2021) , “Shoreline Poems”(2022) and “Alphabet Soup” (2024) , a collection of…
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Upcoming Events

Sep 11 2024
Evening Series
7:00PM
Online via Zoom

The History of Firefighting Early Bytown to Modern Ottawa

Peter McBride

Sep 28 2024
Afternoon Series
1:00PM
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium

Striking Moments of Solidarity in the Chaudière District

Brian McDougall

Oct 9 2024
Evening Series
7:00PM
Online via Zoom

The Story of Us - The (Women's Canadian) Historical Society of Ottawa Est. 1898

Connie Wren-Gunn

Oct 26 2024
Afternoon Series
1:00PM
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium

Gateville & Beyond

Stephen McKenna

View Full Calendar

Ottawa Stories

Ottawa has an interesting and varied history.
Enjoy stories from this month in history or discover other Ottawa stories.

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