This mid-19th century hotel was remodeled in 1881 as the first Ottawa home of the Geological Survey of Canada. The Survey, established in 1842 to map the country's natural resources, became a federal department in 1877 and was soon moved from Montréal to Ottawa. The discoveries of its scientists were presented to scholars, the mining industry and the public through publications, lectures and exhibitions. The Survey's celebrated museum of natural and human history, which was located in this building until 1911, provided the foundation for Canada's national museums.