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.