Bank of Montreal Museum

The Bank of Montreal Museum is a small exhibit inside the bank’s historic head office at 129 Rue Saint-Jacques in Old Montréal. Its displays trace the development of banking in Canada, with old banknotes, coins, counterfeit money, mechanical piggy banks and other artifacts. The bank was founded in 1817, and its history is closely tied to Canada’s financial past. Look up at the building’s neoclassical columns and dome before visiting the museum. Admission is free, and the compact exhibit suits a short stop while you are nearby.

A small exhibit inside the bank

The museum occupies a room inside the Bank of Montreal’s head office on Rue Saint-Jacques. Its displays focus on the bank’s early history and the development of banking in Canada. The Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817, and the exhibit connects its story with changes in Canadian currency and finance.

The room is compact, so this is a brief stop rather than a large museum visit. Give yourself time to read the displays if you want more than a quick look. Admission is free.

Banknotes, coins and the building

The collection includes old banknotes and coins, counterfeit money, mechanical piggy banks and other historical artifacts. A 19th-century teller’s window is among the items on display. Together, the objects offer a tangible glimpse of how banking looked and worked in earlier periods.

The building is part of the visit. Its neoclassical design includes prominent columns and a dome; take a moment to look up as you enter. The head office faces Place d’Armes, across from Notre-Dame Basilica. Photography is not allowed in the branch area.