The Canadian Museum of Civilization is located in the City of Hull on the Quebec bank of the Ottawa River. The design architect was Douglas Cardinal. The architectural forms of the building reflect shapes found in nature, distinctive of Cardinal's design style. The Manitoba limestone used as exterior cladding holds fossils that are visible on the walls of the building whose roof is composed of copper vaults and domes.

The Museum opened in 1989 and is the headquarters of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation whose mission is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada and all its peoples, to be the repository of the collective memory of Canadians and to play a role in affirming the Canadian identity. The Museum is both a source of inspiration and learning and a place for research and recreation that belongs to all Canadians.