The Écomusée du fier monde has been devoting itself to highlighting the history of the Centre-Sud heritage since 1980. This Montréal neighbourhood is a microcosm of the industrial revolution that took place in Québec, Canada and North America during the second half of the 19th century.

The Écomusée du fier monde is accredited by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. It is a museum about industrial history whose interests are the triad: labour, industry, culture.

The Écomusée fulfils its mandate in close co-operation with the population as well as the institutions and cultural and community organizations of the neighbourhood. It also takes an active part in thoughts and discussions related to the current and future development of the Centre-Sud neighbourhood.

The Écomusée maintains favoured relations with the Québec museum circles. It is also a member of the Association des musées canadiens (AMC), the Société des musées québécois (SMQ), the Société des directeurs de musées montréalais (SDMM), the Regroupement des musées d'histoire de Montréal, and the Association québécoise pour le patrimoine industriel (AQPI). It also benefits from numerous contacts with its colleagues museologists in the country and abroad. The Écomusée enjoys an excellent reputation attributable to the constancy and enthusiasm of its team. It has also carried out many researches, exhibitions, audiovisual productions and publications. Moreover it is present in the neighbourhood and in the museum circle.

This work has led the Écomusée du fier monde to be considered as a major player in the development of eco-museology here and abroad.

In 1987, Sauvons Montréal awarded the Écomusée an "Orange" Award for carrying out a map highlighting the architectural heritage of the neighbourhood. In 1991, the Écomusée won the Société des musées québécois "publications" Award for its exhibition titled Exposer son histoire. In 1996, it won two prizes: Sauvons Montréal awarded it an "Orange" Award for the quality of the renovation and preservation of the heritage of the bain Généreux, and the Association québécoise d'interprétation du patrimoine awarded it an Award for excellence. In October 1997, the Écomusée also won the Société des musées québécois Award for excellence for all its achievements. Finally, it was awarded the 2002 Montréal Architectural Heritage Award.

The Écomusée is located in the bain Généreux since September 1996. This relocation was made possible thanks to the financial support of the City of Montréal, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, and the Department of Canadian Heritage. They granted a $1.3-million subsidy for renovating the equipments, laying out the exhibition halls and carrying out exhibitions.