Dalnavert Museum, Winnipeg

Nestled discreetly among modern apartment blocks between Broadway and Assiniboine Avenue, the Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre is one of Winnipeg’s best-preserved links to the city's Victorian past. Also known as the MacDonald House, this restored 1895 mansion is an exceptional example of Queen Anne Revival architecture and a National Historic Site of Canada since 1990.

Dalnavert was built for Sir Hugh John Macdonald, the former Premier of Manitoba and son of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The elegant residence became home to Hugh John, his wife Gertrude Agnes VanKoughnet, daughter Isabella, son John, and a small staff of live-in domestic workers, including a cook, a maid, and, for a time, a nurse.

The house has been lovingly restored to reflect the late-Victorian lifestyle of Winnipeg’s upper-middle class, complete with authentic period furnishings and décor. Visitors are invited to step back in time and experience a "day in the life" of the Macdonald household through immersive guided tours and exhibits.

Beyond the mansion itself, the heritage garden and Visitors’ Centre, opened in 2005 and designed by architect Wins Bridgman, offer space for cultural programming, events, and seasonal activities-especially popular during the Christmas season.

Saved from permanent closure in 2013 thanks to the determined efforts of the Friends of Dalnavert, the museum reopened in 2015 and continues to serve as a vital piece of Winnipeg’s cultural landscape, engaging the public with history, architecture, and storytelling.

Whether you're a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or curious traveler, Dalnavert offers a captivating glimpse into 19th-century life in the Canadian Prairies.