Maritime museum, museum ships and more!

The Musée maritime du Québec in L’Islet offers a life-size immersion in Canada’s maritime history. Enter a hydrofoil and climb aboard a real icebreaker to learn more about the daily lives of captains, explorers and sailors. All aboard, sailor!

Indoor exhibitions

This was my very first visit to the Musée maritime du Québec with my boyfriend and some friends. To be honest, we were pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the exhibits, as well as the knowledge and additional information provided by the guides. The experience begins as soon as we are welcomed, where the different sections of the museum are explained to us. Each floor represents a different exhibition, not forgetting the exterior, but I’ll come back to that in a moment!

We stay on the ground floor, where we find the first permanent exhibition: the time of the rowboats, or as the museum staff call it: the rowboat house. Here we discover the evolution of canoes as seen on the St. Lawrence River or in Quebec’s lakes and rivers. Made of bark, wood, cedar or oak, over twenty boats are on display. It’s just as interesting to discover the know-how of our ancestors. You can even dress up in costume and climb aboard some of the rowboats. You’re sure to get some funny shots!

Time of the longboats exhibition at the Musée maritime du Québec in L'Islet — ©A canoe in the Longboat Days exhibition|Amélie Dumas-Aubé

The Time of the Rowboats exhibition at the Musée maritime du Québec in L'Islet — ©The Longboat Days exhibition at the Musée maritime du Québec|Antoine Fournier

Roots of the sea & Captain J.E. Bernier

We continue our self-guided tour on the upper floors, to the exhibition: Roots of the Sea. It pays tribute to our sailors and explains certain traditions, such as the importance of the tradition of christening a ship. The exhibition also warns us about the various dangers facing sailors who set off far out to sea: collisions, groundings and shipwrecks. But what interested me most was learning about the places in Quebec where maritime legends endure, and where treasures are buried at the bottom of the river.

To round off our tour of the interior of the museum, we head for the exhibition devoted entirely to Captain J.E. Bernier, a native of L’Islet by the way. A great Arctic explorer, he dedicated his career and part of his personal fortune to conquering the North! Even today, Joseph-Elzéar Bernier is considered the world’s youngest naval captain.

Inside, there are two other exhibitions to visit, but these are guided tours. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to join one of the groups. But, I promised myself I’d be back to dive the Scottsman wreck & visit the model store!

Visit an exhibition at the Musée maritime du Québec in L'Islet — ©Visit an exhibition at the Musée maritime du Québec|Antoine Fournier

Outdoor open-air museum

And now, my favorite moment of the day, as I open the back door and step outside… Let yourself be surprised by the Musée maritime du Québec’s open-air exhibition. Inaugurated in summer 2022, the wharf has been completely refurbished to provide a play area for families.

Two museum boats are available for self-guided and guided tours on site! While admiring the imposing silhouettes of the boats and the expanse of the St. Lawrence River, your children will be able to touch and even climb on the various structures. Yes, because even if you’re in a museum, you’re still allowed to touch what you see! A little taste before you get inside the boats for real.

Hydrofoil Bras d'Or 400 and Icebreaker Ernest Lapointe

Did you know that flying boats exist? I’m not talking about a Quebec legend like the chasse-galerie, but about a hydrofoil. A prototype designed by the Canadian army during the Cold War. Indeed, the hydrofoil Bras d’Or 400 is a strange and unique vessel born of military research. Thanks to its specific characteristics, this boat’s mission was to detect enemy submarines and escape at full speed before being detected in turn. How fortunate we are to have this one and only worldwide prototype here in the Chaudière-Appalaches! By the way, did you know that it was compulsory to hold both an airplane pilot’s license and a boat navigation license to drive this self-supporting winged craft? Indeed, when the boat reaches a certain speed, it takes off, using its wings, to reach unprecedented speeds of 60 knots! So much to learn from the guided tour!

To round off our day, we took a self-guided tour of the icebreaker Ernest Lapointe, exploring every nook and cranny on our own. This steamship, which was in service for 37 years, was responsible for clearing the river during winter freeze-up. It was much slower than the hydrofoil we visited earlier, but undoubtedly much more robust and reliable! It’s quite striking to see the difference in comfort between an officers’ cabin, galley and dining room versus the facilities for the deckhands.

In my opinion, one afternoon isn’t enough to tour the four interior exhibits, visit the models and discover the two museum ships. I’ll make the most of a fine summer’s day and take the time to visit the Scottsman wreck and the model storage room! I’m sure it’ll be well worth the detour!

Visit the Bras d'Or 400 river park and hydrofoil at the Musée maritime du Québec in L'Islet — ©Visit the Parc fluvial and the hydrofoil Bras d'Or 400 at the Musée maritime du Québec |Stéphanie Allard

Cabin of the hydrofoil bras d'or 400, Musée maritime du Québec | L'Islet — ©Cabin of the hydrofoil bras d'or 400|Stéphanie Allard

Interior of the hydrofoil bras d'or 400, Musée maritime du Québec | L'Islet — ©Inside the hydrofoil bras d'or 400|Stéphanie Allard

A visitor inside the Bras d'Or 400 hydrofoil at the Musée maritime du Québec in L'Islet. — ©A visitor inside the hydrofoil's telecommunications station|Amélie Dumas-Aubé

The interior of the hydrofoil Bras d'Or 400 at the Musée maritime du Québec in l'Islet — ©A couple inside the hydrofoil cockpit|Samuel Thériault

Visit the River Park and the Ernest-Lapointe icebreaker at the Musée maritime du Québec in L'Islet. — ©A couple reads an interpretation panel in the River Park|Stéphanie Allard

A captivating visit... a must-see!

I don’t think one afternoon is enough to tour the four indoor exhibits, visit the models and discover the two museum ships. I’ll make the most of a fine summer’s day and take the time to visit the Scottsman wreck and the model storage room! I’m sure it’ll be well worth the detour!

Photos: Stéphanie Allard, Antoine Fournier and Amélie Dumas-Aubé

Musée maritime du Québec

55 chemin des Pionniers East, L’Islet

This museum takes you back in time with its interactive exhibits, ship models and captivating stories. Explore the secrets of the navigators of yesteryear!

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