Billings Estate National Historic Site

The Billings family settled on the shores of the Rideau River in 1812 and took an active role in shaping the community as it evolved over time and until the 1970s when they left the estate. They helped build farms and churches, ran a dairy operation, and contributed to the development of the Byward Market by providing produce for sale and building the "Farmers' Bridge".

This National Historic Site on 8 acres of green space is also home to one of Ottawa's oldest community cemeteries where well-known Ottawa pioneers, such as the Evans, Brouse and Firth families, are laid to rest.

Doors Open Ottawa

Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 from 10 am to 5 pm
Free admission

Did you know Billings Estate National Historic Site features Ottawa’s oldest wood-framed house and one of the city’s first community cemeteries? Today, this former farming community hub sits on 8 acres of land in the Alta Vista neighbourhood. You’re invited to take in the museum’s gardens, main house, ice house, and cemetery as part of Doors Open Ottawa. Inside the main house, enjoy the primary exhibition highlighting the Billings family history alongside the development of early Gloucester Township. Upstairs, explore the museum’s latest temporary exhibition, “Beyond Billings: Stories and Belonging(s)”.

Note: The museum is located in a historic house. Due to building standards of the time, not all parts of the museum may be accessible to all. Please note that the second floor of the museum, including the “Beyond Billings” exhibition, as well as some outbuildings, are accessible by stairs only. If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact the museum at 613-580-2088 or by email at museums@ottawa.ca. 

Father’s Day Car Show

Sunday, June 15 from 10 am to 3 pm
Cost: Single - $8.67; Family (Up to two adults, and accompanying children, all living in the same household) - $22.49

Treat your dad, paternal role model, or favourite car enthusiast to a day of family-friendly fun at Billings Estate National Historic Site. Chat with community members about their pre-1999 antique and vintage cars. The Billings’ 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville will also be on display. Visitors can cast a vote for their favourite car, explore the museum at Ottawa’s oldest wood frame house, and challenge each other to a scavenger hunt.

Register to participate in the show with your vehicle

Car owners are invited to participate in the Father’s Day Car Show at Billings Estate National Historic Site with their pre-1999 vehicles (no ‘mods’ or hotrods). To participate, please complete the online registration form by June 11, 2025.

Please plan to arrive at the museum (2100 Cabot Street) on June 15 between 8:30 am and 9:45 pm. We hope that you will be able to participate for the duration of the event. If you need to depart early, we request that you depart on the hour so we can coordinate the movement of vehicles. Registered car owners will receive two chits for lunch.

If you have questions, contact larysa.voss@ottawa.ca

Notes

• This program takes place rain or shine. Please dress for weather conditions, including proper footwear for uneven, grassy, or gravel terrain.
• As many of the vehicles are owned by community members, the number of participating vehicles may vary throughout the day (or be impacted by inclement weather).
• If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact the museum at 613-580-2088 or by email at museums@ottawa.ca. Additional information about accessibility can be found on the museum webpage.

Can You Dig It?

July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, August 7, August 14, August 21 and August 28 from 10:30 am to noon
Ages 8 to 11
Cost: $7.56 per child
Advance registration is required. Registration opens May 15 at 9 pm.

Learn to dig for artefacts, identify mysterious objects and use techniques that scientists use every day. Inspired by Canada’s first paleontologist, Elkanah Billings, kids will get their hands dirty like Indiana Jones in a simulated excavation site at one of Ottawa's historic homes.

Themes

The four weekly themes and their content repeat each month.

• Archeology (July 2 and August 7)
  Dig into archeology! Learn about the Billings family and identify the artefacts you find. 
• Geology (July 9 and August 14)
  Unearth the secrets of our natural history and identify geological samples.
• Paleontology (July 16 and August 21)
  Discover the world of plant and animal fossils.
• Beyond the Pit (July 23 and August 28)
  Tell the story of your excavation! Piece together your discoveries and curate a museum exhibition.

Notes

• The primary language of delivery for this program is English.
• This is a drop-off program. Parental participation is not required.
• Activities take place outdoors. Please dress your child for weather conditions, including clothing and shoes you are comfortable with getting dirty. A hat, sunscreen, and bug spray are recommended.
• Please pack a small snack and a bottle of water for your child.
• This program is delivered rain or shine. In the event of poor weather conditions, activities may be adapted or moved inside. In the rare event that the session must be cancelled due to inclement weather, all registered participants will be contacted directly with further information.
• Activities take place on the museum grounds which include grassy and uneven terrain. The simulated dig site is at ground level, but activities can be modified for table-top access. Accessible washrooms are available on the ground floor of the museum. If you have questions or concerns about accessibility, please contact 613-580-2088 or museums@ottawa.ca.
• Sessions with insufficient registration may be cancelled. If the session cannot be rescheduled, a refund will be issued.

Time Travellers

July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, August 6, August 13, August 20, and August 27 from 10:30 am to noon.
Ages 5 to 7.
Cost: $7.56 per child.
Advance registration is required. Registration opens May 15 at 9 pm.

Step back in time and discover all the museum has to offer! Kids will explore the museum inside and out, while tackling projects inspired by day-to-day life on the Billings family farm. Each week they’ll explore different heritage chores, skills, and pastimes through fun, hands-on activities.

Themes

The four weekly themes and their content repeat each month.

• Botany (July 3 and August 6)
  One of the Billings family members is feeling unwell. Use Lamira’s remedies and ingredients from her garden to help get them back on their feet.
• Bugs (July 10 and August 13)
  Investigate the insects living around the house and grounds, then build a bug hotel for the Estate’s garden.
• Building (July 17 and August 20)
  How did Billings Bridge get its name? Construct a bridge and test its strength.
• Butter (July 24 and August 27)
  Explore the Billings family’s legacy as dairy farmers and learn how to make butter.

Notes

• The primary language of delivery for this program is English.
• This is a drop-off program. Parental participation is not required.
• Some activities take place outdoors. Please dress your child for weather conditions, including clothing and shoes you are comfortable with getting dirty. A hat, sunscreen, and bug spray are recommended.
• Please pack a small snack and a bottle of water for your child.
• This program is delivered rain or shine. In the event of poor weather conditions, activities may be adapted or moved inside. In the rare event that the session must be cancelled due to inclement weather, all registered participants will be contacted directly with further information.
• Some activities take place on the museum grounds which include grassy and uneven terrain. Accessible washrooms are available on the ground floor of the museum. If you have questions or concerns about accessibility, please contact 613-580-2088 or museums@ottawa.ca.
• Sessions with insufficient registration may be cancelled. If the session cannot be rescheduled, a refund will be issued.

Tea on the Lawn

Complement your visit to Billings Estate National Historic Site with Tea on the Lawn. Enjoy tea and freshly baked goods alongside our beautiful gardens. Heritage staff are happy to highlight the unique history of the estate, making Tea on the Lawn a memorable addition to your museum experience.

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from May 14, 2025 through August 31, 2025 (excluding June 15) with seatings at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm.
Reservations are required. 

2025 menu and prices

Three-tier service for one: $21.31 (taxes included) 
Pot of tea; finger sandwiches; scone with butter and jam; desserts. Admission to the museum for one visitor is included.

Substitute gluten-free options: $3.49 (taxes included)
Add Devon cream: $3.49 (taxes included)

Tea and scone: $6.57 (taxes included)

Substitute gluten-free options: $1.16 (taxes included)
Add Devon cream: $3.49 (taxes included)

Reservations

Request your reservation online beginning April 9, 2025 at 10 am. Reservation requests should be made no later than 4 pm on the Sunday prior to your desired visit. If your preferred date does not appear as an option when completing the online request form, reservations are full for that date (or otherwise unavailable).  

Please note that submitting a reservation request does not mean your booking is confirmed. A member of staff will follow up with you by email to confirm your reservation. Reservations are filled in the order requests are received.

If you require assistance with your Tea on the Lawn reservation, please email BillingsEstateTea@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2088 ext. 35258.

Notes:

• Large groups: Reservations of 7 or more guests must be confirmed by the tearoom coordinator (call 613-580-2088 ext. 35258). Groups will be seated at tables of four or six. To keep pathways clear, tables cannot be pushed together.
• Allergies: We will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions identified during the reservation process but cannot ensure an environment free from all risk of cross-contamination. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee to meet last minute requests for accommodations at the time of service. If your allergy or dietary needs change, please contact the museum in advance of your seating to update your reservation.
• Accessibility: Tea on the Lawn is served outside under an open-sided tent with a stone floor which may be rough or uneven in some areas. A passenger drop-off and pick-up zone is available in front of the lobby entrance. If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please inform staff at the time of reservation or contact the museum by email at BillingsEstateTea@ottawa.ca. Additional information about accessibility can be found on the museum webpage.
• Weather: In the event of inclement weather, Tea on the Lawn may be served inside the museum. In the rare event that weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances necessitate the cancellation of Tea on the Lawn, all guests will be contacted directly with further information.

Picnic on the museum grounds

Visitors are welcome to bring their own snacks and picnic on the museum grounds. To preserve the artefacts in the museum, no eating or drinking is permitted in the exhibition spaces. Outside food is also not permitted in the tent where Tea on the Lawn is served.

Beyond Billings: Stories and Belonging(s)

April 23 to October 10, 2025
Regular admission fees apply

“Beyond Billings” showcases a selection of belongings from the Billings Estate National Historic Site collection chosen by 12 individual curators from the Carleton University Curatorial Studies program (CURA 5001). “Beyond Billings” explores how museum objects are perceived from different viewpoints. Each object, highlighted as a vignette, sparks new questions about the Billings family and how they lived, while also inviting you to consider the life of the item beyond its arrival to the Billings family.

The exhibition is located on the second floor of the house which is accessible by stairs only. A visual guide is available to visitors who cannot access the second floor. If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact the museum at 613-580-2088 or by email at museums@ottawa.ca. 

Artefact collections

A large portion of the Billings Estate National Historic Site artefact collection received Canadian Cultural Property designation in 1996 because of its significance as material evidence of the historic development of the nation's capital. The eclectic collection contains more than 27,000 artefacts - many of which are on exhibition at the museum - that belonged to the family and their neighbours, including furniture, household goods, personal possessions, an extensive library, tools, entomological specimens, agricultural equipment and a 1959 Cadillac. 

Exhibitions

The museum's exhibitions are designed to tell the stories of the estate and the community's evolution over more than 150 years, beginning in 1812 when the Billings family settled on the Rideau River.

Permanent exhibition - The Billings Family Story

Always at the museum is our permanent exhibition that explores the story of pioneers carving out from the wilderness a new life, the progress of relationships and families through good times and bad, the history of industry and agriculture in the area, and the community that grew over the years.

Interactive features like a touch-screen family tree, audio recordings of poetry readings and the Oath of Allegiance, as well as radio programs from days long gone by round out the experience, with telescopes showing a peek into the past. We've made sure there's a scavenger hunt for our young visitors, too. An accessible audio tour is also available.

Billings Family virtual exhibition 

The Billings Family virtual exhibit, presented by the City of Ottawa Archives, gives a view of the Billings Family and their interactions with the growing city center of Ottawa and Billings Bridge Village. The histories are written from the perspective of one family’s experiences and activities, within the context of Ottawa’s development as a city.

Reminiscent of a country estate, the nearly 200-year-old manor house and surrounding eight acres of landscaped greenspace and gardens provide a picturesque and historical backdrop for your special event.

For more information, please contact our Customer Service Booking Clerk. Call 613-580-2088 or email museums@ottawa.ca.

The City of Ottawa Museums are committed to offering residents meaningful and rewarding volunteer experiences.

Heritage volunteers play an invaluable role in preserving our unique heritage and in providing museum visitors of all ages with opportunities to appreciate our shared story.

Thank you to all our volunteer team members for their continued support.

The museums are not currently accepting new volunteers. If you have any questions about the volunteer program or would like to be notified when volunteering resumes, please contact museums@ottawa.ca.

Work with us to shape your experience. Contact the museum before your visit to discuss your needs. Information about accessibility at the facility, programs, and services is available upon request.

The accessibility features of this facility are detailed below. While the City of Ottawa is constantly working to improve access, please note that not all parts of every facility are necessarily 'accessible for all' as facilities were built to meet accessibility standards of their time.

• Parking
  • 2 designated parking spaces 
  • Accessible path of travel from the parking lot to entrance
  • 100 metres from parking space to the door
• Passenger Loading Zone
  • Access aisle
• Entrance/Exit
  • 2 accessible entrances (Main House and Tombstone Garage)
  • Ramp
  • Wide door for wheelchair passage
  • Automatic door opener
  • Direct access to the main floor, lobby
• Interior
  • Accessible seating available
  • Wheelchair available for patrons
• Reception desks
  • Accessible counters
  • Floor area for maneuvering a wheelchair
• Signage
  • Directional signs
  • High contrast signage
  • Large lettering
• Washrooms
  • Accessible washrooms on first floor
  • Large stalls to allow transfers
• Telephone
  • Volume control
  • Accessible path
• Museums, galleries, and archives
  • 2 exhibition spaces are accessible
  • Good visibility for patrons in wheelchairs
  • Interpretive labels or panels in large font

Learn more about Inclusive Recreation and accessible services.