Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site
Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site
4.5
About
Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site was the home of the first Premier of Alberta, Alexander Cameron Rutherford. In 1911, A.C. Rutherford, his wife Mattie and their family moved into this beautiful brick mansion near the university campus. The family entertained friends, relatives and influential Edmontonians for more than a generation. Today, this restored and furnished Edwardian-era home maintains the Rutherford tradition of hospitality and offers visitors a glimpse into the past with costumed interpreters, guided tours and special events.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
71 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
24
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
evamy
calgary46 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
Ended up at the Rutherford House while a local mystery writer was launching her latest novel, set in the very same historic site I was wandering around it...the house itself is splendid and the young woman with whom I was chatting about the house was enthusiastic and detailed in her answers to my many questions. I thought it was wonderful to see a historic site used to launch an event, and judging by the many people there, and the laughter that followed the writer's reading, it was a great success!
Written June 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
celtic ceilidh
Edmonton, Canada25 contributions
May 2014 • Family
Blast from the past. Every year we participate in the Robbie Burns celebration at Rutherford house to dance,hear the pipes and the toast to the Haggis!
Written May 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donald K
Edmonton, Canada1,196 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
If you like expensive cucumber sandwiches while drinking the same blend of tea that Elizabeth drinks, this place is for you. I have gone a dozen times over the years just for the highest priced cucumber sandwiches I know of. I have toured the house in the past and seem to recall it was an interesting part of Edmonton History. Worth stopping in.
Written March 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelguy1951
Lomond Alberta5 contributions
Sept 2013 • Solo
The old electric cars were fun to ride ... the volunteers runing them were interesting and knowledgeable ... the provided a rare trip over the historic High Level Bridge and a great way to get to Old Strathcona from downtown without the cost and hassles of parking there. Try it!
Written September 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lois H
Edmonton, Canada9 contributions
May 2013 • Solo
This is the house originally built by Alberta's first premier, and contains authentic furniture. I was so disappointed when the lovely Arbor Restaurant closed. We always went there for high tea.
Written August 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cathv250
Edmonton, Canada29 contributions
Oct 2019
The house is intriguing with 100 years of history. Cheap to enter and helpful staff. Other people sing the praises of the buffet but I had a simple lunch in the restaurant which was fresh cooked and delicious.
Written November 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cairine_and_Jim_C
Golden Lake, Canada16 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
Superb luncheon! Our server Justice is most familiar with fine cuisine having been trained herself! Cudos to our chef for the innovative dishes including an avocado sherbet which was to die for topping off the beets salad entree.Lamb entree was served with original sides so far from the humdrum usual as to be a celebration of epicurean delight!
We then toured the Museum accompanied by Ron who was impressively knowledgeable from the various plattersand dishes to the original Christmas cactus in the drawing room.
For an easterner visiting Alberta this was fascinating drawing connections from aontaril to Slberta in the 1900's
..
We then toured the Museum accompanied by Ron who was impressively knowledgeable from the various plattersand dishes to the original Christmas cactus in the drawing room.
For an easterner visiting Alberta this was fascinating drawing connections from aontaril to Slberta in the 1900's
..
Written December 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carmen D
Saint Paul, Alberta, Canada79 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
Visited this with a long time friend! They even let her play the old piano!! Very informative and it was a quaint visit. Tons of antiques to see! Reserve an hour to visit!
Written March 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johanne Y
St. Albert, Canada148 contributions
Nov 2017 • Business
You'll love this Edwardian home if house museums are your passion. Although it's modest in size and accoutrements, especially by the standards of house museums elsewhere, it does, nevertheless represent what a politically important and wealthy man would have owned when this city was very young. The rooms are spacious and the decor authentic to the period. I did find the oak furniture in the dining room a bit strange since mahogany or walnut would have been more formal and appropriate for such a room. The entrance and the library are my favorite rooms due to the quality of the millwork. Given that many people never moved beyond these rooms into the more private parts of the home, it was important that they be spectacular so they were designed to impress. The rest of the rooms are less ornate.
Another excellent reason to visit this house museum is for the food that is prepared in the restaurant. The chef is inventive in his menu selections and you can soak up the atmosphere of the home while eating and for just a little while you can pretend that you live there.
Another excellent reason to visit this house museum is for the food that is prepared in the restaurant. The chef is inventive in his menu selections and you can soak up the atmosphere of the home while eating and for just a little while you can pretend that you live there.
Written January 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robby G C
Toronto, Canada81,632 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We didn’t know the opening hours of this museum. We entered and the guide said that we had 15 minutes to visit this place, as they close at 5 P.M. We could enter for free. I took pictures of every room. After all, this was the house of the first premier of Alberta.
He planned to have a house built where no other homes were nearby. They were all alone in their field. He had 1.3 acres. It was a nice attractive home prior to WWI.
It was also quite modern in its time. Compared to other homes. The Rutherford home had electricity, hot and cold running water, a sky-light, hot water heating as well as flush toilets.
His wife was an excellent cook and she loved gardening. They had one son and two daughters.
I liked the library, after all I love books! The dining room was massive. Quite attractive!
The tiny rooms upstairs were for the maid. She was well taken care of. She had her own room, her own bathroom and a sitting room just for her.
The Master bedroom is the most attractive bedroom of all of them. It even had wallpaper. It even had a built-in closet with hooks on the wall.
I enjoyed my quick walk through this lovely home. Before we left, the guide gave us a booklet with all the information. All for free. “This way, you will know everything about this home.” He said. We thanked him profusely.
This home was standing all alone when it was built. Now it is surrounded by the University of Alberta.
It was quite worthwhile to visit this place. I loved it!
He planned to have a house built where no other homes were nearby. They were all alone in their field. He had 1.3 acres. It was a nice attractive home prior to WWI.
It was also quite modern in its time. Compared to other homes. The Rutherford home had electricity, hot and cold running water, a sky-light, hot water heating as well as flush toilets.
His wife was an excellent cook and she loved gardening. They had one son and two daughters.
I liked the library, after all I love books! The dining room was massive. Quite attractive!
The tiny rooms upstairs were for the maid. She was well taken care of. She had her own room, her own bathroom and a sitting room just for her.
The Master bedroom is the most attractive bedroom of all of them. It even had wallpaper. It even had a built-in closet with hooks on the wall.
I enjoyed my quick walk through this lovely home. Before we left, the guide gave us a booklet with all the information. All for free. “This way, you will know everything about this home.” He said. We thanked him profusely.
This home was standing all alone when it was built. Now it is surrounded by the University of Alberta.
It was quite worthwhile to visit this place. I loved it!
Written May 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sadly the tea house at Rutherford House is still closed- it is being renovated and they hope to reopen later in 2016. But you can have a lovely high tea or just tea at Cally's Tea House (-I was not able to post the website for you) which is not too far from the University area. Hope this helps
Written February 26, 2016
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