Historic Timeline
From the area’s first inhabitants and initial settlement, to its development into farmland, towns and centres of industry, to the city we know today, Ottawa grew out of a variety of urban and rural communities with a rich and diverse heritage. Scroll through the timeline to learn about major events in the history of Ottawa.
We are looking for more information about historic events from Ottawa and the surrounding area. Do you have an interesting story about Ottawa’s past you would like to share? Do you have information or images to add to an existing event? Please send us your suggestions using our online form.
Bytown Era
Date: 1826 - 1832
Date: 1845
Date: 1849
Date: 1826
Date: 1829
Date: 1836
Date: 1827
Date: 1850
Date: 1847
Date: 1848
Early Settlement
Date: 1812
Date: 1810
Date: 1793
Date: 1792
Date: 1792
Date: 1800
Date: 1801
Date: 1820
Date: 1821
Date: 1821
Date: 1826
Date: 1827
Date: 1841
Date: 1800
Date: 1792
Emerging City and National Capital
Date: 1857
Date: 1900
Date: 1868
Date: 1874
Date: 1886
Date: 1885
Date: 1899
Date: 1859 - 1876
Date: 1867
Date: 1875
Date: 1877
Date: 1887
Date: 1889
Date: 1893
Date: 1893
Date: 1894
Date: 1899
Date: 1958
European Exploration
Date: 1610
Date: 1783
Date: 1613
Focus on growth
Date: 1916
Date: 1925
Date: 1920
Date: 1931
Date: 1907
Date: 1907
Date: 1928
Date: 1916
Date: 1905
Date: 1907
Date: 1925
Date: 1931
Growth and Transformation
Date: 1966
Date: 1949
Date: 1950
Date: 1956
Date: 1961
Date: 1961
Date: 1962
Date: 1963
Date: 1967
Date: 1974
Date: 1974
Date: 1974
Date: 1978
Date: 1978
Date: 1979
Date: 1981
Date: 2001
Date: 1942
