The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Founded in 1912 The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum of world culture and natural history, containing notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals, meteorites, African and East Asian art, along with European and Canadian history.

The new main entrance, designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind opened in 2007 to a lot of controversy. Many Torontonians complain that it’s the ugliest building in the city, but I happen to like it, in part because it was the first time Toronto opened itself up to architectural experimentation. Named The Crystal, its goal is to provide openness and accessibility, offering an open threshold where people, as well as artifacts, animate the space.

The last time I actually paid to see the galleries was in 2010; the dinosaur exhibit is the best in the world, and I recommend you see it if you are ever in Toronto.