2006 Museum of Canadian Civilization

 Northwest Coast Transformation mask

Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Quebec

The Museum of Canadian Civilization ( now the Canadian Museum of History ) was founded in 1856 as the display hall for the Geological Survey of Canada. The museum featuring minerals, biological specimens, and historical and ethnological artifacts was moved from Montreal to Ottawa in 1881 and renamed the National Museum of Canada . In 1968, the museum was split into the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Museum of Man (renamed the Museum of Canadian Civilization). In 1989, the Museum of Canadian Civilization was relocated to Gatineau, Quebec, directly across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill, the present site of the Canadian Museum of History.

Canadian Museum of History (formerly the Museum of Canadian Civilization)

Gatineau, Quebec

In 2006, Canada Post Corporation issued a stunning 89 cent stamp (U.S. letter rate) to commemorate the Museum's 150th anniversary. The stamp featured the Northwest Coast Transformation mask shown above.

 According to the museum, transformation masks are physical manifestations of the concept of changing from one state of being to another. They are worn by costumed dancers, who open and close the beaks by pulling on strings attached to the sides of the mask.

CPC issued the Canadian Museum of Civilization commemorative U.S. rate (89¢) stamp, in booklets of eight on May 11, 2006. Domestic letter rate stamps were not issued for this occasion.

Usage to the United States

Montreal to Rio, Wisconsin, October 30, 2010

89 cents letter rate to the United States