Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one of the top natural history museums in North America. It’s also one of the biggest. Spanning 214,000 square feet on four floors, the museum boasts 6 million objects in its diverse collections of art and archaeology. Visitors to the ROM will enjoy browsing the popular permanent galleries, as well as the special exhibitions and interactive galleries for children.

Explore the Galleries

From rare dinosaur fossils to the art of ancient cultures, this museum has many themed galleries showcasing its vast collections of cultural and natural science artifacts. The ROM’s renowned collection of dinosaur skeletons is an absolute must-see, particularly the towering 90-foot Barosaurus which is one of the only two Barosaurus skeletons on display in the world. Kids will love the interactive spaces where they can dig for bones, and even touch a real dinosaur leg bone! Walk through the popular Bat Cave, which houses thousands of specimens of bats, snakes, and other creepy-crawly creatures. And a 6,900 square-foot space houses an incredible collection of minerals, gems, and meteorites, including one of the biggest lunar meteorites on display in the world. 

Prepare to be taken back in time by the diverse exhibits of world culture, including the largest collection of Chinese architectural artifacts outside of China, a costume gallery showcasing a stunning collection of 50,000 textile and costume artifacts from Baroque fashion to Chinese Imperial costumes, and a 9,500 square-foot gallery dedicated to Canada’s best collection of early Canadiana. The ROM also boasts a spacious First People gallery with some of the oldest collections of Native cultural artifacts in Canada.

The ROM also hosts many changing special exhibitions from around the world, and is home to Canada’s largest gallery for temporary exhibitions. It is also offers extensive educational and community programming.

About the Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum opened its doors to the public in 1914 and underwent major expansions in 1933 and 1984. The Renaissance ROM renovation and expansion project began in 2004, and unveiled the controversial Michael Lee-Chin Crystal in 2007. Chosen from an international competition and inspired by the ROM’s gem collection, architect David Libeskind designed the massive crystal-shaped glass and aluminum building which now houses the main entrance of the ROM. The Crystal has sparked much discussion. Some feel the modern design is too stark compared to the architecture of the area and the original 1914 and 1933 structures, which have been designated heritage buildings. At the same time, many admire its unique and grand style.

Dining and Shopping at the ROM

The acclaimed c5 Restaurant Lounge on the top floor of the Lee-Chin Crystal offers a gourmet menu in a chic, elegant setting. The afternoon tea service is very popular. For more casual fare, the Food Studio with market-style food stations offers a variety of fare featuring local organic seasonal ingredients. Enjoy your meal in a loft space flooded with natural light. And on the weekends, families brown-bag it in the ROM Kids Lunch Room, which has vending machines available for snacks and drinks.

The 7,000 square feet ROM Museum Store has an excellent selection of unique gifts reflecting the museum’s collection of artifacts, and the ROMkids Store offers a superior selection of books and toys.

Visiting the ROM

Located at 100 Queen’s Park, the ROM is at the southwest corner of Bloor Street West and Queen’s Park, just a few blocks west of the Yonge and Bloor Street intersection in downtown Toronto. Detailed driving directions are available on the official website and there are several paid parking lots nearby. If you are taking public transit, exit at the St. George stop on the Bloor-Danforth subway line.

The ROM is open 7 days a week year-round, except for December 25. General admission is $22 for adults, $19 for students and seniors, $15 for children 4-14 years, and free for children 3 and under. Admission is FREE every Wednesday from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm (excluding admission to special exhibitions.) And every Friday, admission is half price from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Location: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Phone: 416-586-8000

Click here to visit Royal Ontario Museum official website