Exhibitions and Galleries

Memorial Hall

Located in the Foyer, to which entry is free, Memorial Hall is a quiet public space for rest and reflection. Accessed via a narrow walkway, the room rests at the intersection of two axes that form the basis of the Museum's orientation. The east-west axis extends to the Peace Tower, while the north-south axis parallels the path of the sun across the building on November 11 (Remembrance Day).

The concrete walls, grooved with large offset rectangles, are reminiscent of the rows of white grave markers in Allied war cemeteries. The headstone of the Unknown Soldier is the lone artifact, a simple bench the only furniture. On Remembrance Day at 11:00 a.m., sunlight refracts through a single window on to the headstone of the Unknown Soldier. A reflecting pool, which is also visible from the Foyer, instills an atmosphere of tranquil silence. A peaceful and undecorated space, Memorial Hall is a place for quiet remembrance of the sacrifices made by those who have and continue to serve Canada.