Seven Oaks House Museum, Manitoba Travel Guide

Step back in time at the Seven Oaks House Museum, a beautifully preserved window into 19th-century Manitoba. Constructed between 1851 and 1853 for John Inkster, a prominent merchant and member of the Council of Assiniboia, and his wife Mary Sinclair, the museum stands as one of the oldest surviving residences in the province. The house is named after a nearby creek, commemorating the Battle of Seven Oaks in 1816.Explore the Inkster's nine-room home, built in a Vernacular Georgian style, and wander through rooms displaying original artifacts and period furnishings that depict different eras of Manitoba's past. Adjacent to the main house is the Inkster's General Store, dating back to the 1830s and representing one of the earliest examples of Red River Frame construction.Visitors can immerse themselves in the stories of the Inkster family, their contributions to the Red River Settlement, and the transition from a fur trade economy to agriculture. The museum provides guided tours and interactive exhibits that shed light on the complex relationships between settlers and Indigenous peoples. The grounds feature gardens and green spaces, offering a tranquil setting to reflect on the history and heritage of this unique site.Seven Oaks House Museum is open seasonally, from the May long weekend to Labour Day, inviting visitors to experience life as it was for a wealthy Métis farming family in the 19th century.