10 Ways to Explore the Plains of Abraham Museum in Québec

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Founded in 1908 as a historic area within the Battlefield Park of Québec City in Québec and deeded to the city, The Plains of Abraham is one of the largest city parks in the world. The 240+ acre park, named for Abraham Martin (former pilot to the king and friend of Samuel de Champlain) is the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, part of the French and Indian War in 1759.

The park includes the Joan of Arc Garden, the Citadelle (read our feature of the Citadel here), the Martello Towers, an old jail, nature trails, parks, playing fields, and a bandstand for summer concerts. The park welcomes over four million visitors each year and offers year round activities, entertainment, and programs for the whole family. Highlights include:

The park also includes a historic museum, open year round, that is home to several multimedia and hands-on exhibits, rotating art exhibitions, and displays of archaeological artifacts found throughout the park. 

Travel Tips:

  • Information on admission fees and hours here. Kids under age five are free. 
  • There is a small gift kiosk and coat check near the admission desk and a few picnic tables for snacking. Restrooms are available on each floor. 
  • There are no dining facilities on site for the museum, but La Rue Saint-Jean is less than a ten minute walk from the museum and has tons of great dining options– our favorites are Paillard for a quick service bakery, Les Trois Garçons for burgers, and Bistro Hortus for a delicious brunch or dinner.
  • There is a large parking lot near the main entrance to the museum. Information on how to get to various parts of the park here. 
  • The museum is handicap accessible via an elevator. We suggest starting with the exhibits on the third floor and making your way down each floor. 
  • Check out information on a variety of guided tours here and special events and programs here. 
  • Plan on 90 minutes to two hours to fully explore all the exhibits. 

Ten Things to Do at Plains of Abraham Museum:

3rd Floor Batailles: L’ordre et la loi exhibit:

  1. Unlock the punishment for various crimes 
  2. Speak with a live interpreter about women’s role during the war.
  3. Smell the cork barrels to recognize the drinks from the 18th century.
  4. Watch the 30 minute video Battiles and learn about the Battle 

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2nd Floor Histoire du parc and Batailles exhibits

  1. Read about the history and naming of the park.
  2. Choose a favorite artifact from the collection of tableware, tools, glass, slate pencils, even toiletries. 
  3. Learn about the various uniforms and even try one on!
  4. Listen to narratives about soldiers traveling to Pointe-Levy.

1st Floor Aeris exhibit: Check out the rotating exhibit. When we visited in December 2023, the exhibit featured sculptures from artist Jérôme Trudelle.

Ground Floor Traces exhibit: Measure your height against the average soldier’s height and average grenadier’s height.

Looking for other adventures in Québec? Check out our posts featuring the Musée de la Civilisation, the Morrin Centre, Le Monastère Des Augustines, La Citadelle de Québec, the Assemblée Nationale du Québec, and the Auberge Saint Antoine hotel. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X.      

Disclosure: Our family was given a media pass to explore the museum. All opinions expressed are my own. 

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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5 Comments

  2. This gives such a good background and seems really awesome for the kids too! The activities on the 3rd Floor are particularly drawing – did you give the unlocking of punishments a go? Sounds really exciting!

    Reply

  4. What a cool place to bring the kids! Who knew there was a place to actually learn about the French and Indian War (besides a book)!

    Reply

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