ABOUT CDC: Craigdarroch Castle

Built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir during the reign of Queen Victoria and now a National Historic Site, Craigdarroch Castle has been meticulously restored, giving visitors a glimpse of privileged life in the 1890s. Visitors to the castle will learn the full story from its time as the home of the Dunsmuir family to its time as the Craigdarroch Military Hospital, Victoria College, Victoria School Board, and Victoria Conservatory of Music who all occupied the building throughout its 130-year history. The goal of programming at Craigdarroch Castle is to provide educational and entertaining activities while supporting the stated aims and objectives of the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society. Public and education programs support the institution by helping visitors to see, understand, and respond to the collections, exhibitions and the Castle itself. These programs must live up to the challenge of making the museum experience more accessible to more people while offering a complete picture of this period in Victoria’s history. Because Craigdarroch Castle is a historic house museum, it differs from other museums which display collections in buildings erected for that purpose. The Castle itself is the most vital element in the collection—the building, interior furnishings, ornaments, and artifacts help to tell the story of Craigdarroch, the Dunsmuir family, and their role in British Columbia’s history. To learn more about the museum, visit their partner page: Craigdarroch Castle