Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is located at Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm, which traces its roots to 1886 and is the world’s only working farm in the heart of a capital city. The Museum offers programs and exhibitions on Canada’s agricultural heritage, food literacy, and on the benefits and relationship of agricultural science and technology to Canadians’ everyday lives. It provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see diverse breeds of farm animals important to Canadian agriculture past and present, and to learn about the food they eat. In addition to breeds common to Canadian agriculture, such as Holstein dairy cows and Angus beef cows, the Museum also has Canadienne dairy cows, Tamworth pigs, and Clydesdale horses. Many other breeds of dairy and beef cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, poultry, goats, and rabbits round out the collection. Public programming includes special weekend theme events, school programs, camps, tours and demonstrations.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.0
236 reviews
Excellent
118
Very good
73
Average
27
Poor
10
Terrible
8
Freely Adventure
Edmonton, Canada186 contributions
July 2019
There was sooo much to see and do at the museum. We scheduled 3 museums in one-day, (yes crazy busy), but we spent 3-4 hours at this museum. The children loved seeing all the animal and the food museum was quite fascinating. Give yourself time to visit all the exhibits. They didn't have a canteen, so pack and bring a lunch, they had a lunchroom available to eat.
Great place to learn about Canadian Agriculture. Overall we enjoyed our day, only thing I wish we had more time to read and visit.
Great place to learn about Canadian Agriculture. Overall we enjoyed our day, only thing I wish we had more time to read and visit.
Written 22 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MeganMunro
Toronto, Canada1,408 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
We had a great time at the agriculture and food museum. There with five adults and four kids ranging from 12-3 in age - everyone left liking a certain aspect of the area best.
There is a great mix of learning and doing and seeing.
Advice in the late fall would be to bring your own food as options were very limited - but overall we had an enjoyable day out and would recommend to others.
There is a great mix of learning and doing and seeing.
Advice in the late fall would be to bring your own food as options were very limited - but overall we had an enjoyable day out and would recommend to others.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LegoDad77
Alert, Canada1,490 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Located just south of Ottawa it is a must see when in the area. Parking is ample, but you do need to pay.
During COVID you can book a block of time to visit. I recommend you set it up well in advance, this place is pretty cool and spots may go fast.
Most of the place is open, the closed portions were spots you won't miss. The animals are all very cool, you have to wash your hands before and after petting them. The cows are off-limits for petting.
During COVID you can book a block of time to visit. I recommend you set it up well in advance, this place is pretty cool and spots may go fast.
Most of the place is open, the closed portions were spots you won't miss. The animals are all very cool, you have to wash your hands before and after petting them. The cows are off-limits for petting.
Written 19 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan Glin
Brampton, Canada28 contributions
Aug 2021
A great little farm. We visited on a hot day but the buildings were well ventilated and we were happy to see that the animals seemed to be comfortable as well. There was a lovely misting station near the entrance which was refreshing.
You can buy water and snacks from vending machines - we wished there was a snack bar - but knowing that there was not we ate ahead and just brought water with us.
It’s a little bit outside the downtown area, it was approximately a $17 Uber ride for up to 3 people.
You can buy water and snacks from vending machines - we wished there was a snack bar - but knowing that there was not we ate ahead and just brought water with us.
It’s a little bit outside the downtown area, it was approximately a $17 Uber ride for up to 3 people.
Written 8 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather A
British Columbia, Canada295 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
We visited with our grandchildren (ages 2 & 7), so we only visited the barns with animals. It took longer than I thought to walk through all the barns. There were a lot of dairy cows, some calves, pigs, goats, sheep, a few alpacas, rabbits, & chickens, and a few horses & donkeys outside.
The children enjoyed seeing the animals up close, but the only animals that could be touched or petted were the calves.
Because of COVID restrictions, tickets must be reserved for a specific time and purchased online a few days ahead of time.
The children enjoyed seeing the animals up close, but the only animals that could be touched or petted were the calves.
Because of COVID restrictions, tickets must be reserved for a specific time and purchased online a few days ahead of time.
Written 27 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iplayazi
Calgary, Canada292 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We visited the museum after it reopened in August. My kids who grew up in the suburbs were enthralled with all of the animals at the farm. My 5 year old actually said this was the best day of his life! The mixture of indoor/outdoor activities was great even for a very hot afternoon. Would highly recommend.
Written 13 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AmarilisVos
Jabbeke, Belgium2,480 contributions
July 2023
We visited the museum on July 3. There is parking at the museum (9 CAD for the day). Kids will like the animals and adults will like the rapeseed and aquaculture exhibit. There is explanation for young and old at certain hours. These are in different locations, so you need to be well organized if you want to see them all. Making ice cream with an old 19th century ice cream machine with tasting is not to be missed.
Written 18 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lise r
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Ottawa has some amazing Museums. Unfortunately this is not one of them. Somehow there is no food available at a food museum. You can go through the whole thing in like an hour. Animals look miserable, have VERY limited space. The hogs hardly have enough room to stretch out and their only entertainment is a toy on a chain in the tiny little pen. Not only was this museum boring and disappointing, it left us feeling very sad the rest of the day. Parking is $3.75 per half hour. I am a museum person, this was hands down the worst one I've been to anywhere. There's some better local petting zoos and park omega only an hour away.
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rayg50
Sudbury, Canada348 contributions
Oct 2019
we went there last year (2019) - never remembered to review it...
but anyways, so this is a great place for kids to run around and have some interaction with animals.
we spent a couple of hours there, and my kids really enjoyed making ice cream by themselves.
fun time for sure.
but anyways, so this is a great place for kids to run around and have some interaction with animals.
we spent a couple of hours there, and my kids really enjoyed making ice cream by themselves.
fun time for sure.
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Casualtraveler416
Toronto, Canada4 contributions
Mar 2022
Typical government run institution. Not very organized, staff not helpful and managers even worse. Plus expect to pay $8 for parking. I'd check out other attractions before wasting your time here.
Written 20 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this a place where animals are treated like on a real good farm that cares for its animals? Based on photos, I see that every animal is tied up there, even calves inside the cage?! Is this a humane and loving place for animals or not? I don't want to spend money on an attraction otherwise.
Written 8 June 2018
IngeniumCanada
Ottawa, Canada
Hello, The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is a working farm. One of the goals of the Museum is to show where food comes from and how a typical Canadian farm operates. There are many farm staff that take great care of the animals on the farm. The health and happiness of the animals is very important to all our staff. The animals get regular vet visits to ensure they are healthy. The Beef Cattle and horses go outside daily year round. The sheep and goats spend most of the spring, summer and fall outdoors. The dairy cows go outside nightly once the field is safe (in the spring, summer and fall), after their evening milking. At a young age the calf are mostly kept in separate pens in the barn, but they do spend time outside together. The older cows that are not currently being milked do spend most of the spring, summer and fall outdoors.
Written 10 June 2018
went there each year when my children were young .This is like visiting a farm. was very enjoyable.
Written 23 March 2018
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