About the Museum

Built in 1895, Dalnavert Museum is an ornate Victorian mansion nestled in the heart of Winnipeg. This unique museum features a “day in the life” feel as it transports you back in time to the 19th century the second you step inside.

Dalnavert was home to the Macdonald family, comprised of parents Lady Agnes and Hugh John Macdonald, Isabella “Daisy” (daughter from Hugh’s first marriage), and John “Jack” (son of Agnes and Hugh). The household had two live-in staff, one cook and one maid. For a time, there was also a live-in nurse named Hattie, hired to care for Lady Agnes. The museum is named for the Scottish birthplace of both of Hugh John’s grandmothers.

Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre (DMVC) is a national historic site and one of the finest examples of Queen Anne Revival architecture in Western Canada. Today the museum fosters engagement with history, culture, and much more.  Pay us a visit to see how!