Roedde House Museum

Roedde House Museum at 1415 Barclay Street in the West End, Vancouver, British Columbia, is a Queen Anne Revival house built in 1893 and designed by the architect Francis Rattenbury, later known for the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel in Victoria. It was built for Gustav Roedde, a German-born bookbinder, and his wife Matilda, and the family lived there until 1925. The house is one of the few survivors of the West End's first residential era, with a corner turret, a decorated porch, patterned shingles and gingerbread trim. After a period as a rooming house, the City of Vancouver bought it in 1984 and the Roedde House Preservation Society restored it as a museum, which opened in 1990. Interiors are furnished with period pieces from the 1890s to 1925, including the parlour, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms, to interpret middle-class family life in early Vancouver. The adjoining Barclay Heritage Square holds other restored houses and a heritage garden. The curatorial approach is immersive, with guided tours moving through the rooms with stories about the Roedde family and the development of the area. The museum also runs seasonal events such as teas and music in the parlour. Conservation has included repainting, restoration of exterior details and care for textiles and furniture. A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes, tours run at set times, and admission is about CAD $10 for adults.