Live virtual tour on June 8, 2025, at 3:00 pm in English (Montreal)
Are you not able to come visit the temporary exhibition “From Last Spike to Art Connoisseur, A Journy With Sir William Cornelius Van Horne” ? Fret not! On 8 June 2025, join us on a virtual tour of the exhibition. You will learn about William Cornelius Van Horne, Little Billy’s “Grandpa”, the “Big Chief” of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Sir William of the British imperial upper class, the railroad builder, the empire builder, the breeder of purebred cattle and competition horses, the agronomist, the geologist, the joker, the fascinating host, the talented musician, the gifted artist, the avid collector of knowledge and the visionary patron of the arts…. and also, an attentive husband, brother and father. The virtual tour brings to light only part of the Van Horne of history: the expertise of the collector, the vision of the patron and the intimacy of the discreet artist for whom the arts – and the indispensable calm they provided – enabled him to find balance in his tumultuous days.
Duration: approximately 45 minutes (+15 minutes for questions)
Registration for this tour is free and we thank you for encouraging us in our mission by making a voluntary donation by clicking here.
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Live virtual tour on February 23, 2025, at 3:00 pm in English (Montreal)
Welcome aboard, history enthusiasts! Today, we embark on a virtual journey through time to explore the fascinating tale of the Intercolonial Railway, its sleeping cars, and the dedicated porters, the unsung heroes who ensured a comfortable journey while also standing at the forefront of the fight for racial equality and justice.
Get ready to traverse the landscapes of 19th and early 20th-century Canada as we unveil the rich history associated with the Intercolonial Railway’s sleeper cars and their porters.
Live virtual tour on March 23, 2025, at 3:00 pm in English (Montreal)
The year is 1926. You are a visitor at the Canadian National Exhibition, a several weeks long fair in Toronto, Ontario. You come across a crowd of other visitors. What are they looking at? You push your way through the crowd to see what all the fuss is about. When you look up, your eyes fall on two railway cars. What makes these cars so special? They are not just any rail cars. These cars have been converted by the railway companies into something called a “School car.”
Live virtual tour on April 13, 2025, at 3:00 pm in English (Montreal)
Duration: approximately 45 minutes (+15 minutes for questions)
Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum is offering a virtual tour of the Canada Car, once used by Charles Melville Hays, former president of the Grand Trunk Railway. This car, built in 1897, is usually inaccessible to the public when visiting Exporail. This unique experience will allow visitors to explore the vehicle’s interior and hidden secrets. Moreover, visitors will learn more about the life of Charles Melville Hays, a great visionary of Canadian railways.
Live virtual tour on May 4, 2025, at 3:00 pm in English (Montreal)
Duration: approximately 45 minutes (+15 minutes for questions)
Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, offers a virtual tour of the CPR 2850 locomotive used during the royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939.
This mode of transport was recommended to enable as many Canadians as possible to see the King and Queen.
