Musée de l'Amérique Francophone, Quebec City

The Musée de l'Amérique Francophone, previously known as the Musée de l'Amérique Française, is located in the historic Old Quebec neighborhood of Quebec City. It holds the distinction of being Canada's oldest museum. Within its collection, you'll find books from the library of Séminaire de Québec, including some dating back to the 16th century and others housed in a section humorously referred to as "Enfer" (meaning 'Hell' in French). Additionally, the museum boasts a diverse range of artifacts, such as items from Cyprus, paintings, first-edition copies of "The Birds of America" and the "Encyclopédie," as well as a faithful reproduction of the organ from the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec.

The museum originally opened its doors on October 22, 1806, under the name "Musée du Séminaire" and holds the distinction of being Canada's oldest museum. In 1993, it underwent a name change to become the "Musée de l'Amérique française," and in 1995, it became a part of the Musée de la civilisation. In 2013, as part of a broader effort to modernize its image, the museum was renamed "Musée de l'Amérique francophone."

The museum is situated adjacent to Séminaire de Québec in Quebec City. In 1838, the architect Thomas Baillairgé designed the museum's distinctive building, complete with its circular façade. Additionally, the former chapel, known as the "Chapelle du Musée de l'Amérique francophone," is attached to the main building. This chapel is recognized as a site of religious heritage and currently serves as a conference center and event hall.

The museum houses an impressive collection of approximately 110,000 items. At its inception, the museum's collection included objects that contributed to the education of the sciences. Today, the collection encompasses a wide array of items, including coins, stamps, fossils, paintings, sculptures, prints, books, as well as gold and silverware.