Biosphère, Environment Museum

The Biosphère, Environment Museum is housed inside Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome on Île Sainte-Hélène in Parc Jean-Drapeau, at 160 Chemin du Tour-de-l'Isle in Montreal, Quebec. The dome was built as the United States pavilion for Expo 67 and has become one of the most recognisable landmarks of the city. Today the structure is a museum dedicated to the environment, water, climate and sustainable living, run as part of Espace pour la vie.

The dome's steel lattice remains visible from the outside, and the original acrylic skin was lost to a fire in 1976, leaving the framework that gives the building its airy appearance. Inside, exhibition spaces occupy a series of suspended platforms. Interactive displays explore the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes ecosystem, air quality, climate change and the choices that cities and individuals can make. Visitors can also take in views of the surrounding park and the Montreal skyline through the lattice from the upper levels.

A visit typically takes one to one and a half hours. Adult admission is CAD 25.50, with seniors 65+ at CAD 23, students CAD 19, ages 5-17 at CAD 13.50, a family ticket at CAD 68 for two adults and three children, and free entry for children under 5. The schedule is seasonal and the museum is usually closed on Mondays in the off-season, so hours should be checked on the Espace pour la vie site before going.

The Biosphère pairs well with a walk around Île Sainte-Hélène, where trails, picnic areas and views of the St. Lawrence make summer and autumn visits especially pleasant. Crowds are lighter than at the Biodôme, and weekday mornings are the quietest. The museum is a five-minute walk from Jean-Drapeau metro station on the Yellow Line, and a single metro fare is CAD 3.75. Photographers often favour the dome from the outside at golden hour, when the lattice glows against the sky.