The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. is inviting the public to take a ride back in time with a new collection of horse-drawn carriages from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition, titled Horse Power, explores the history of horse-drawn vehicles in Quebec from 1770 to 1950, showcasing the carriages’ creators and the famous figures they transported. The 18 exquisite carriages and sleighs on display were hand-selected from the vast collection of Paul Bienvenu, which was donated to Quebec City’s Musées de la civilisation in 2011. Among them are a Hansom Cab reported to have appeared in a Hollywood film starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, a graceful sleigh that was loaned to four governors general of Canada, including Lord Stanley of Preston, and a landau originally commissioned by the Archbishop of Quebec. At a preview of the exhibit on March 23rd, Bienvenu spoke of a lifelong love of horses, which sparked his interest in carriages in the 1960s. Through strategic acquisitions and loving restoration, Bienvenu amassed the largest and finest collection of carriages in North America – 213 vehicles in all. “The museum is pleased to present this unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles, an important record of a not-so-distant past,” said Jean-Marc Blais, director general of the Canadian Museum of History. Horse Power opens March 24th and will be on display until April 17, 2017.