Musée Maritime du Québec, Maritime museum in L'Islet, Canada
The Musée Maritime du Québec is a maritime museum in L'Islet with three ships on display, historic buildings, and grounds extending to the St. Lawrence River. The collection holds more than 15,000 objects including charts, documents, and artifacts that trace this region's connection to water and shipping.
The museum was founded in 1968 as Canada's first maritime institution and grew from a navigation school that Christian Brothers established in 1853. These roots show how the region has long maintained connections to maritime training and education.
The collection reveals how central water transport has been to this region's identity, with preserved objects that document the daily work of shipbuilders, sailors, and merchants. Visitors can see how river commerce shaped settlement patterns and local life along the waterfront.
The museum sits directly on the riverfront along Rue des Pionniers Est and is easy to explore on foot. Book visits in advance, as guided tours have limited capacity, especially during warmer months.
The museum displays two unusual military vessels: the HMCS Bras d'Or, an experimental hydrofoil from the Canadian Navy, and the CCGS Ernest Lapointe, an icebreaker used for Arctic operations. These ships offer windows into specialized chapters of Canada's maritime history.
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