The Museum offers a unique experience for visitors: unlike many heritage houses, the rooms are not roped off or behind glass, and some of the artefacts may be handled with care. Each of the eleven rooms has been furnished with artefacts and period items, which were collected over the years, some returned by the Roedde family. Experienced docents will be happy to share their knowledge and stories with you.more...See more text
Vancouver's shiny glass office towers and modern condos can make it easy to forget that the city has a rich and interesting history. But history there is, and some of this history can be found at the Roedde House Museum, a late-Victorian period home in Vancouver's West End.
The Roedde House Museum was built in 1893 for the family of Gustav Roedde, the city's first book binder, and has been restored to reflect the day-to-day life of a middle class, immigrant family during that period. Now visitors come from Vancouver and abroad to learn about the Roedde family and life at the turn of the century.
The museum is run by the Rodde House Preservation Society, a not-for-profit organization that maintains historical collections, runs tours and hosts special events. The staff and volunteers are pleased to offer visitors a glimpse into what life was like in Vancouver. “People will come and learn about the history of Vancouver and the family who lived here,” says Sheila Giffen, the museum manager, “and just in general about the heritage of this area.”
The Roedde House Museum holds a wealth of information about the binding and printing company that Mr. Roedde founded over 100 years ago. The business continues to operate as G.A. Roedde Printers, providing custom printing to businesses in the Lower Mainland.
