Royal Ontario Museum, History and natural history museum in Toronto, Canada
The Royal Ontario Museum is a natural and cultural history institution in Toronto that brings together collections of archaeology, ethnography, paleontology, and mineralogy across six floors. The exhibition spaces span several building sections, connecting historic rooms with modern extensions of glass and metal.
The institution first opened in March 1914 and was initially part of the University of Toronto until gaining full independence in 1968. The first expansion took place in the 1930s, while the largest construction phase concluded with the completion of the Crystal building in 2007.
The galleries display objects from every inhabited continent, including Egyptian mummies, Chinese ceramics, and Mediterranean textiles. Many visitors spend time in the Canadian history rooms, where First Nations everyday objects stand beside tools used by European settlers.
Most visitors plan around three hours for a tour, depending on interest in individual subject areas. Wheelchair-accessible entrances and elevators are available in all building sections, and coat lockers are provided in the entrance area.
The Crystal building facade tilts in multiple directions, with some walls leaning outward and others inward. This design was originally controversial, but has since become a landmark in the neighborhood.
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