Seven Oaks House Museum – a hidden gem

West Kildonan

I often pass by Seven Oaks House on walks or bike rides in the Scotia Heights area of West Kildonan I live in.

It’s funny how something of such historical relevance, like the oldest remaining house in Winnipeg, built in 1851-53 and an example of early Red River Settlement architecture, can just become a familiar part of the neighbourhood, often escaping notice as you walk the dog or gather the mail, thoughts elsewhere. A tangible example of how history fades into the background, taken for granted and unexplored as our busy lives crowd out any time for reflection and discovery.

I must admit that I wasn’t completely knowledgeable of the history of Seven Oaks House and hadn’t yet visited the museum. I did know that nearby Inkster Boulevard was named for the influential Scottish-Métis Inkster family which had built the home and could imagine, while standing among the restored homestead buildings, the original river lot outlines looking east to the nearby Red River, and what life must have been like there in the 19th century.

I became more keenly interested in the history of Seven Oaks House upon recently hearing of its National Historic Site designation awarded through Parks Canada. I found myself feeling a sense of pride that something in our neighbourhood was worthy of national recognition and that Red River Settlement-Métis history was being given more prominence in a Canadian history context.

I also wondered what the newly minted designation (joining a previous provincial heritage site designation) might offer for the future of Seven Oaks House. I reached out to Tracey Turner, manager and curator, for her perspective.

Turner hopes that the designation will bring a national profile and the heritage value of Winnipeg’s oldest house and museum. She added that it will also provide avenues for national funding-matching for preservation and conservation, and that a full multi-year restoration of the house is planned to start in the spring.

Turner is also envisioning expanded programming, building on special events such as Manitoba Métis Federation’s annual commemoration of the 1816 Victory of Frog Plain on June 19; a lively barbecue with traditional music, tours of the house and sharing stories of the Inkster family, the fur trade and the original Red River settlement. Fall events, highlighted by the ghostly paranormal-inspired Spirit of Seven Oaks tours, have proved immensely popular and will be back with more offerings in 2026.

With the snow falling and the holiday season soon upon us, one can only hope expanded programming in the future might include a Red River Christmas-themed event, connecting us to how Christmas was celebrated in the early days of the Red River settlement and provide another opportunity to create community amongst a living reminder of the past.

The Seven Oaks House Museum is open from Victoria Day to Labour Day each year