Bursting with charm and steeped in history, Canada's oldest surviving homes were built to last, with some even predating the creation of the nation by a century or more. These storied gems are loaded with period features and old-world character, stretching back to the 1700s.
Click or scroll as we take a step back in time and take a look at some of the most venerable homes and historic landmarks across Canada, from earliest to oldest...
As imposing as it is historic, Lougheed House is one of Canada’s last prairie sandstone mansions. Constructed in 1891, with three acres (1.2ha) of garden, the property blends Victorian and Edwardian architectural styles and is still renowned for its beauty.
Listed as a National and Provincial Historic Site, it is thought to be one of the oldest buildings in Calgary.
The amazing mansion was crafted for Senator Sir James Alexander Lougheed and his wife, Lady Isabella Clark Hardisty Lougheed. Not only was the building their family home, but it was also a political, cultural and social hub until 1936.
Emerging community groups later made the property their home. It was a women’s training facility and even housed the Women’s Army Corps. It was also once a Red Cross blood donor clinic.
Today, the building is a museum that's open to the public. Thanks to a 2005 restoration, the interior is truly exquisite and appears entirely untouched since it was built more than 130 years ago.
From rich mahogany walls to elegant fireplaces, classic wallpapers and spectacular stained-glass details, Lougheed House is full to bursting with amazing historic gems.
Even more remarkably, the house stands alongside some of Calgary's tallest and newest skyscrapers, providing a stark juxtaposition between old and new.
The house is open to the public Friday to Sunday from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm, while the tranquil gardens can be accessed daily between 7.00 am and 11.00 pm.
The city of Moncton in New Brunswick is home to plenty of landmark buildings, including the Free Meeting House and Treitz Haus. Yet Thomas Williams House is perhaps the finest property the city has to offer.
As grand as it is beautiful, the historic home was built in 1883 and is now a designated municipal heritage site.
The stately, Victorian-era home was constructed by prominent Monctonian, Thomas Williams, who was a noted industrialist and treasurer for the Intercolonial Railway.
Extremely wealthy, he needed a home that showcased this status and bank balance, and we think he certainly succeeded.
Thomas and his wife had 11 children and six were born in the house. It remained a private dwelling for the Williams’ descendants until 1981. This meant it remained in good condition for nearly 100 years after its construction.
The Thomas Williams House was designated as a landmark for its level of preservation and its Victorian-era interior design. Some of its key features include its square frontal tower, paired gabled pediment dormers, ornate mouldings, pilaster window trims, panelled doors with transom windows and beautiful ironwork.
Today, the 12-room, Second Empire property is an elegant symbol of local life during the Victorian era and has been lovingly restored and preserved over the centuries.
Visitors can step inside during the summer months (July and August), to take in the home's retro wallpapers, antique furnishings, regal chandeliers and historic artefacts.
Quebec was founded back in 1608, so it makes sense that the city and its surrounding areas are filled with amazing architecture and gorgeous historic homes.
Known as Witch Bay Castle (spot the witch on the roof!), this enchanting residence lies in the town of Stanstead and has been described as "one of the most beautiful ancestral houses in Quebec".
The property was built in 1880 but it looks wonderfully preserved, thanks to a complete restoration in 2000. The owners took time and great care fixing up the home to bring back its "majestic and sumptuous character".
Everywhere you look you'll spot beautiful historic features, including solid wood doors, stained-glass windows, elegant fireplaces and antique furnishings.
The Victorian residence can accommodate up to 12 people and comes complete with 25 rooms across four floors.
There are not one but three gorgeous living rooms, a formal dining room, a retro kitchen, six bedrooms and two bathrooms. We love the antique basin and skirt found in the largest suite in the house.
Despite being wonderfully traditional and classically styled, the home also benefits from plenty of modern touches. There's a tennis court, for one, as well as a hot tub and a games room.
There's also a large outdoor terrace with a barbecue and numerous sitting areas. Plus, guests can take a dip in the nearby Fitch River.
Step back in time and soak up the splendour of this remarkable Victorian manor. Located on one of the most historic streets in Springwater Township, the building dates back to 1875 and offers bags of kerb appeal.
Nestled on 1.44 acres (0.58ha), the building extends 4,343 square feet (403sqm) over four floors. The wrap-around front porch leads to the front door, which opens into this elegant entrance foyer.
With rich mahogany wood taking centre stage, the hallway would have been the perfect welcome for important guests.
Off the hallway, you'll find several formal sitting rooms, as well as a beautiful dining room and kitchen.
Original details can be found everywhere, from textured, finely carved wood trims to sliding pocket doors, exquisite wainscotting, original hardwood floors, fireplaces and oversized sash windows.
Ideal for a growing family, the residence boasts five large bedrooms and two bathrooms. The attic, accessible via a separate staircase, presents endless possibilities and would make for a gorgeous private retreat or studio. There's also a basement and an attached garage, not to mention a mature garden.
The grand Victorian was for sale in November 2024, with Sotheby's International Realty Canada, for CAD$1.5 million (£853k/$1.1m).
Located in Hamilton, Ontario, The Kirkendall Mansion is one of the most impressive historic homes in the entire city.
Built at the height of Canada’s Industrial Revolution, which kicked off in the 1840s and was at its height during the 1850s, the residence was designed by one of Hamilton’s most well-known architects, William Palmer Witton. Sadly, we don't know the exact date the mansion was built.
Witton was a prominent Hamiltonian and local Member of Parliament and is responsible for some of the city's finest buildings. The Kirkendall Mansion is definitely one of them.
The 8,000-square-foot (743sqm) mansion boasts 11 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, a formal dining room, a large eat-in kitchen and several sitting rooms.
Despite a modern makeover, the historic mansion still benefits from plenty of original details, from eclectic woodwork to stained-glass accents, elaborate ceilings, wainscoting and stone fireplaces.
The property also comes complete with a 1,800-square-foot (167sqm) coach house, which has three additional bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. That means the mansion can accommodate up to 16 guests.
Fancy spending the night? The Kirkendall Mansion is available to rent via Airbnb.
It might look like a grand hotel or a parliament building, but The Old Government House in Fredericton, New Brunswick, was actually constructed as a residence.
Built between 1826 and 1828, the castle-like property was designed to be the residence of New Brunswick's Governors and Lieutenant-Governors.
Crafted from local sandstone and situated on 11 acres (4.5ha) on the banks of the St John River, the building is now a significant cultural landmark in Fredericton, and it's no real surprise.
From 1828 until the Canadian Confederation (the process by which the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were united into one federation in 1867), most of the important decisions affecting the region were debated here.
Later, the historic house was a school for hearing-impaired students, a military barracks and a hospital for returning soldiers after World War I.
In 1999, the building was restored and opened to the public. Visitors can step inside to witness its stunning library, drawing room, dining room, two conservatories and the original Lieutenant-Governor's office on the main floor.
There's also a music room, where guests can enjoy special events.
St. John's is the capital of Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador province. Its harbour was established by the British in the 1600s and thanks to this, the city is filled with historic, colourful homes that date back centuries.
It's here that you'll find one of the oldest and most important landmarks in the province, Anderson House.
Anderson House was built between 1804 and 1805 and is thought to be the oldest structure in St. John's. With two-and-a-half storeys, the hip-roof building is a fine example of late 18th- and early 19th-century Canadian architecture.
The property was built for James Anderson, who was a sergeant in the militia. The home was a residence until 1815, when it was utilised as a military barracks for the officers of the local garrison.
The eastern end of the ground floor was used as a stable for horses, but sadly this section was later demolished.
Not only has Anderson House maintained its façade, "many interior details remain unchanged, including the large open fireplace in the kitchen, original mantels throughout and a virtually unchanged attic", according to Canada's Historic Places.
If you want to take a look at the building, then it's located on 42 Powers Court.
Québec City is known for its imposing architecture, historic stone buildings and narrow streets. So, it isn't difficult to spot amazing ancient buildings while you walk around this enchanting, European-inspired city.
This prestigious house lies slap bang in the centre of Québec's old town and is nestled in the west wing of Château Frontenac, between Parc-du-Cavalier and Jardin des Gouverneurs.
Amazingly, the house was constructed back in 1783 and was classified as historic in 1967. Far from just being grand and historic, the residence was also the home of the first Mayor of the City of Québec, so it is also an important local landmark.
Now, it is a stunning Airbnb, offering visitors the chance to spend the night in one of Canada's oldest homes.
As you can see, the property has undergone a modern renovation, but it still benefits from plenty of traditional elements, including timber-panelled walls and ceilings, striking stone fireplaces, glossy wood floors and historic casement windows.
The pad is split across five generous floors and boasts a light-filled entrance hall, two cosy sitting rooms, a large dining room, a spacious kitchen, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
There's also an exterior balcony that provides views of the river.
With 300 years of history, the Sinclair Inn is the earliest surviving Acadian building in Canada. The pretty timber property lies in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, and parts of it were constructed as early as 1708.
In 1781, tavern-keeper Frederick Sinclair created the inn by combining two early 18th-century buildings. The first section of the inn was once owned by Jean-Baptiste Soullard, a gunsmith and silversmith for the French garrison at Port Royal. It was crafted between 1708 and 1710.
The second building, which forms the rear two-thirds of the building, was built in 1711 for Dr William Skene, who was the surgeon at the local British garrison. He was also a member of the Governing Council of Nova Scotia. Some of the wall cavities of the Skene house are filled with wattle and daub, a common medieval infill technique that combines sand and salt marsh hay.
Sinclair combined the two structures and added a new roof that extended over to the street to re-cover the Soullard house. To convey a unified building, Sinclair replaced the existing centre window with a door and added a dormer on top of the door, giving the building a Georgian appearance.
It operated as an inn through much of the 19th and early 20th centuries and the first Canadian Masonic Lodge meeting was held here in 1738.
Today, the Annapolis Heritage Society owns the Sinclair Inn and operates it as a museum, bringing to life the social history of the site during guided tours. From its plum-coloured clapboard exterior to its twelve-over-eight double-hung windows, wooden panelled doors and stencilled floorboards, the building is bursting with amazing historic details.
Plus, the property is said to have its very own ghosts, including a one-armed soldier, a lady in a rocking chair and a pirate guarding his treasure! If that doesn't put you off, the Sinclair Inn Museum is open seasonally, so check the website for details.
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