Bank of Montreal Head Office, Montreal, Bank building in Old Montreal, Canada
The Bank of Montreal Head Office is a banking institution on Place d'Armes in Old Montreal featuring a neoclassical front and bronze ornamental work. The building sits across from Notre-Dame Basilica and now houses a museum displaying historical artifacts related to finance.
The banking institution was founded in 1817 as Canada's first bank, and the current building was constructed in 1847 under architect John Wells's design. This construction marked a turning point in how the financial system developed in Canada and the city.
The Bank of Montreal Museum occupies the passage between the 1847 building and the 1901–1905 extension. Its displays include a 19th-century teller's window, photographs, coins, banknotes, cheques and mechanical piggy banks. Admission is free and the museum follows regular bank hours.
The building is located on Rue Saint-Jacques in Old Montreal and easy to reach on foot since it sits on a central square. The museum area is open to visitors at no cost during standard hours, making a visit straightforward on any weekday morning or afternoon.
The pediment sculpture by Sir John Steell weighs 23 tons and spans 16 metres; the bronze was cast in Scotland and shipped across the Atlantic. It depicts figures symbolising the world of finance. The work dates from 1867, twenty years after the building opened.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,774 contributors worldwide.
