Horse Power – The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection

Exquisite craftsmanship combines with the romance of bygone days in this sumptuous exhibition of 18 horse-drawn sleighs and carriages. Handcrafted between 1770 and 1950, some of these elegant conveyances once transported Catholic cardinals, Montréal millionaires and governors general.

Today, the artistry of the carriage makers lives on in the graceful lines of these lovingly restored antiques. Phaeton, coach, hansom cab or brougham sleigh, each one showcases a different regional style and demonstrates how climate and geography influenced design in the era of horse-powered transportation.

On loan from Québec’s Musées de la civilisation Paul-Bienvenu Carriage Collection, these pieces belong to the finest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America — a collection nationally recognized as a Canadian cultural treasure.

An exhibition developed by the Musées de la civilisation, Québec City, and presented by the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau.