The Empress of Ireland Museum: Discover Canada’s worst maritime disaster
- Empress of Ireland: The Story Continues exhibition: Relive the fascinating destiny of this ocean liner in reverse chronological order, from dives to the shipwreck to the ship’s tragic sinking in 14 minutes on May 29, 1914, to its construction in 1906. Discover over 200 artefacts from the wreck, period photos and videos, accounts by passengers and their descendants as well as ship models.
- The Last Journey multimedia show: Experience the last voyage of the Empress of Ireland during this amazing multimedia show!
The Onondaga submarine: Enjoy a unique experience in Canada!
- Audio tours (available in English and French): Board the Onondaga and discover what daily life was like for the 70 crew members who lived for months at a time in this 90-metre (300-foot) submarine. Examine the complex mechanics of the ship’s powerful engines as well as the control room, sonars and torpedo room.
- New in 2022: The Superpowers of the Onondaga outdoor interactive tour: Using a tablet, discover the submarine’s various systems and how they worked through a series of interactive games: armament, navigation, propulsion, flotation, crew survival. Experience different systems on board to understand how they worked.
- Overnight on the submarine (in French only, reservations required): Spend a unique evening and night aboard the Onondaga! You will be welcomed by the coxswain and asked to play the role of an apprentice submariner as you complete various immersive tasks.
The Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site: Explore 100 years of history
- Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse: Built in 1909, the lighthouse is the second tallest in Canada and one of the few to still have its prism. A guide will tell you more about the history of the lighthouse at the foot of the building.
- Lightkeeper’s house: Visit the Beacons Burning Bright exhibition, which showcases the lighthouses of the St. Lawrence. Discover photos and amazing scale models.
- Foghorn shed: Learn about the sound signals that replaced the light from the lighthouse when weather conditions made it impossible for mariners to see.
Opening dates
Summer 2023
June 10 to August 20: daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (tickets sold until 5 p.m.)
August 21 to October 9: daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (tickets sold until 4 p.m.)
Winter/spring 2023
February 23 to June 9: Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Empress of Ireland Museum only)
Cost
Visit the website and click on “Fees & Infos.”Reservations
Recommended for groups and during off-seasonPayment methods
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Visa
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MasterCard
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Interac
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Cheque
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Cash
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Travelers Cheque
Activities available
Museums
Visit an immersive exhibition and learn about the fascinating history of the Empress of Ireland, which sank in 1914 in only 14 minutes. Discover over 200 artefacts from the wreck and experience the ship’s last voyage during a multimedia show.
Interpretation Sites
Visit the Onondaga, Canada’s first submarine open to the public! Board the 90-metre (300-foot) steel vessel for an audio-guided tour to discover the fascinating daily life of the 70 crew members who lived in this submarine for months at a time.
Lighthouses
Built in 1909, the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse is the second tallest in Canada. A guided tour will take you to the top, where you can admire a fabulous view. Discover the exhibitions in the lightkeeper’s house and the foghorn shed.
Maritime Heritage
Pointe-au-Père has contributed significantly to Canadian maritime history: a pilot station, 4 lighthouses, a Marconi telegraph office and a quarantine office were all built on this site. It also received the SOS from the Empress of Ireland in 1914.
Services
- Childrens playground
- Picnic area
- No pets allowed
- Boutique
- Restaurant or snack bar
- Free parking
How to get there
Take exit 621 off Highway 20 or Route 132, then take Avenue du Père-Nouvel towards the St. Lawrence.
Affiliations and distinctions
Affiliations
- Canadian Museums Association
- Parks Canada partner
- Corporation des gestionnaires de phares de l'estuaire et du golfe du Saint-Laurent
- Tourisme Rimouski
- Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent
- Québec Tourist Attractions Society (SATQ)
- Member of the Canadian Signature Experiences Collection
- Member of the International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM)
Distinctions
- Excellence prize awarded by the Québec Museums Association (SMQ) for best multimedia show for The Last Voyage (2014)
- National winner of Québec Tourism Awards (2001, 2004, 2010, 2012)
