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 museum inside displays banking artifacts from the past, including original teller stations, coins, and banknotes that visitors can examine firsthand. These objects show how financial transactions worked in earlier times and reveal the role money and banking played in the city's development.
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 bronze ornamental work on the front was created in Scotland by Sir John Steell specifically for this building. This cross-Atlantic collaboration reveals the international connections that Montreal's financial world maintained in the 1800s.
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