CHM History
A Brief History of the Centre d'histoire de Montréal 1983-2000
An original idea
The idea behind the Centre d'histoire de Montréal was born in the early 1980s out of a need to find ways to help the city interpret its history and heritage. Although a number of European and American models served as inspiration, the concept was and remains largely original: introduce the city's history and heritage while stimulating visitors to go out and explore on their own after their visit is over. The Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal sparked the rebirth of the city's historic quarter starting in 1979. In 1983, the Entente offered funding for an interpretation center devoted to Montréal history. The center was designed by art historians Raymond Montpetit and Sylvie Dufresne and educator Huguette Dussault. Sylvie Dufresne was the first Director.
A fire station to the rescue… of memory!
The Centre set up shop in a former fire station built on the place D'Youville during the days of horse-drawn vehicles. The building is dated 1903. Its architects, Joseph Perrault and Simon Lesage, based their design on a number of architectural styles, giving the building its unique character and a Flemish profile unusual in Montréal.
By 1972, the fire station had fallen into disuse. The arrival of the CHM had the advantage of preserving this historic building and of contributing to a renaissance of the western sector of Vieux-Montréal, at a time when the area just beginning to recover from several decades of decline. The Centre d'histoire de Montréal was initially administered by the Société d'archéologie et de numismatique de Montréal but moved on, in 1987, to link up with the network of the Maisons de la culture de la Ville de Montréal.
From a sound and light show to an intimate experience
The first permanent exhibition took the form of a sound and light show that extended through several rooms. It attracted about 20 000 visitors each year. But this kind of show created problems of traffic flow, long waits and discomfort. It was therefore decided to rework the permanent exhibition and the museum was closed between 1989 and 1991. Period sets were enhanced and new objects added.
The new permanent exhibition was inaugurated in May of 1991. Museum guides joined the administrative and technical staff under the leadership of a new director, Anne-Marie Collins. New interpretive functions were added to the initial focus on exhibitions, or were developed starting in 1991 (collection, education, animation, publications, website). Jean-François Leclerc took over the helm of the CHM in 1996.
During the 1990s, and more particularly since the start of the millennium, the western sector of the old town was swept up in a wave of new growth: new businesses, restaurants and hotels, a renovated place D'Youville, the Cité multimédia in the former Faubourg des Récollets. As a result of all of this activity, people began to flock to the sector at rates unheard of since the 1950s.
2 years, 20 years, 100 years
In 2001, in a drive to bring the founders' vision into the 21st century in style, the CHM prepared a new metamorphosis for its permanent exhibition and interior design. And what's more, we have created information and reception spaces that are more functional, a multi-purpose room and a new temporary exhibition hall, all essentials in the life of any museum. In 2008, the CHM celebrate its 25th anniversary, and the fire station, its 105 years!
