West of the original boundaries of Montreal (what is now Old Montreal), Saint Antoine Street was the main thoroughfare of a suburban area known as Faubourg Saint-Antoine, later Saint-Antoine Ward.

Following the dismantlement of the fortifications in the first decade of the 19th century, rue des Menuisiers was incorporated as part of a road, 80 feet (24 metres) wide, that the commissioners built between the new Place des Commissaires (now known as Victoria Square) in the west, and Champ de Mars in the east.

The road passed above an old river that was converted into a canal after the dismantlement of Montreal's fortifications.

From 1817 to August 1976, this street was named Craig Street, after Sir James Henry Craig, Governor General of British North America and Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada from 1807 to 1811.

Square-Victoria–OACI, Georges-Vanier and Lucien-L’Allier train station are located on the street while Lionel-Groulx, Lucien-L’Allier, Bonaventure, Gare Centrale, Place-D’Armes and Champ-de-Mars are right nearby.