Roedde House Museum
Roedde House Museum
4.5
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Welcome to the Roedde family's home. Gustav and Matilda Roedde settled in Vancouver in 1888. Gustav opened the first bookbinding business in Vancouver and by 1893 moved into their new house in the West End. Roedde House is attributed to famed architect Francis Rattenbury and is a City of Vancouver-designated Class A Heritage House. Since 1980, the Roedde House Preservation Society has taken painstaking care to renovate and furnish the house to reflect the ambience of late Victorian family life. Come in and experience life in the late 19th century for yourself!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: Robson Street
Robson Street is a shopper's paradise. Whether a window shopper or a serious trendsetter, a fashionista or a dabbler, the crowd of independent boutiques, quirky one-off shops, and well-known luxury brands on Robson Street have something to cater for every itch in your wallet. As a result, it draws a diverse crowd, and the people-watching along this famous walking thoroughfare is a primary attraction. In between the clothing shops both high-street and budget-friendly are a number of cafes to lay down your load, as well as numerous specialty stores ranging in their wares from music, to art, to city souvenirs. Known as "Vancouver's Runway," if a new trend is on the rise, you'd spot it here first.
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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.
Popular mentions
4.5
88 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
30
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Iambic
Vancouver, WA470 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
I'm afraid our view of the Roedde House is not as glowing as others. We rate the museum as a perfectly decent place to visit if you have the time, but not a place to make an effort to see. We visited many places in Vancouver and this was about the only stop we thought we could've done without.
Part of our experience may have to do with the lack of the tour that other visitors enjoyed. When we went to the house, staff members said they were unavailable to provide tours; instead, they provided us a brochure that allowed us to go on a self-guided tour of the house.
The house is small but a very well preserved example of an upper middle class Victorian home from around 1900. A nice history lesson in that regard. You get a good sense of the life of the family that lived there through the explanation of their artifacts.
Part of our experience may have to do with the lack of the tour that other visitors enjoyed. When we went to the house, staff members said they were unavailable to provide tours; instead, they provided us a brochure that allowed us to go on a self-guided tour of the house.
The house is small but a very well preserved example of an upper middle class Victorian home from around 1900. A nice history lesson in that regard. You get a good sense of the life of the family that lived there through the explanation of their artifacts.
Written August 19, 2023
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.
tpbel
Belfast, UK614 contributions
Sept 2021
I loved this house and everything inside - a very lovely way to spend the afternoon. It only opens Thursday - Saturday and I booked online which was easy. No guided tours right now because of covid but I got the audio guide which is really good and you can go at your own pace. Not crowded when I went and easy to get a good look at everything. Such an interesting museum.
Written September 12, 2021
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.
Elizabethfirst
California133 contributions
Jun 2023
This was, unexpectedly, a highlight of the visit to Vancouver. The very knowledgeable and personable Cindy gave an excellent private tour with interesting accounts regarding the Roedde family and history of Vancouver. No extra charge for the tour.
Written July 3, 2023
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.
SussexDuet
Arundel, UK1 contribution
Sept 2013 • Couples
A lovely Victorian house in a quiet part of the city not far from the main shopping streets in an area with several other period houses. We went on a weekday and the admission was only $5 each - compared to all the other tourist attractions this was cheap! The day we went they were short-staffed but the lady who showed us around was very enthusiastic, friendly, made it a very informative tour and was happy to answer our questions. The house itself is not huge but packed with period items which you can get very close to as they are not roped off or behind glass. The house is only open in the afternoons and not on Monday or Saturday.
Written October 17, 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.
Jerry1953
Wiltshire UK101 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
I visited the Roedde House Museum as part of my walk around Vancouver. It is part of a heritage square of similar houses that are now boxed in by skyscrapers and suburbia. The house dates from 1893 and its contents are a mix of things pertaining to the Roedde family themselves and general artefacts and furniture from the period. Mostly the latter. I was given an excellent guided tour of the house and enjoyed going around again afterwards reading the detailed labels. It is easy to be critical coming from the UK where you cannot help stubbing your toe on 1000 year old history, but I thought the Roedde House was well worth saving and well worth a visit.
Written August 18, 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.
Diane L
Aptos, California, United States4 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
We had a lovely visit and tour of the historical home museum. The two of us got a personalized tour. The house is from 1893 and has many artifacts from the original family, the Roedde's. The house had some unusual points of interest, like how the upstairs bedrooms were arranged. I really liked that there were many items that we could touch - the stereoscope and even the Steinway piano. I really enjoyed the kitchen items and seeing some of Mr. Roedde's bookbinding and marbling. Quite a gem and enthusiastic volunteers!
Written July 26, 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.
Celestefaisk
Brasilia, DF691 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
If you enjoy discovering little jewels that tell you something about the life of individuals and their connection with the life of a place, this is the house for you to visit.
The owner, Mr Roedde, was a gentleman original from Leipzig, Germany, who came to Vancouver and happened to be the first book printer and binder; this situation allowed him to establish a business and become very prosperous.
It is located in a very nice and quiet neighborhood, where some other houses in the same style have been preserved, together with a very nice small park.
The process of restoration the Roedde House went through is in itself admirable, and it is partially documented at the place.
The guided visit is nice and the people in charge kindly tell us a lot about the family and the habits of the time.
Small scale concerts are held at the house.
There is no fee, but donation is welcome.
The owner, Mr Roedde, was a gentleman original from Leipzig, Germany, who came to Vancouver and happened to be the first book printer and binder; this situation allowed him to establish a business and become very prosperous.
It is located in a very nice and quiet neighborhood, where some other houses in the same style have been preserved, together with a very nice small park.
The process of restoration the Roedde House went through is in itself admirable, and it is partially documented at the place.
The guided visit is nice and the people in charge kindly tell us a lot about the family and the habits of the time.
Small scale concerts are held at the house.
There is no fee, but donation is welcome.
Written August 6, 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.
COMTECIERGE
California272 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
While walking back to the hotel we discovered this beautiful house. We decided to visit and we were really happy with the experience. Christine was great and took the time to tell us about the history of the property and the family.
It was definitly a very original experience to try in the city. As it was Sunday, we had tea and cookies added to the tour. It made it even more special sharing this moment with other tourists.
It was definitly a very original experience to try in the city. As it was Sunday, we had tea and cookies added to the tour. It made it even more special sharing this moment with other tourists.
Written February 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.
Christine
Chilwell, UK7 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours looking at this wonderful house and hearing the history of the Roedde family. Very reasonably priced $5 entrance fee and lovely tour guide Marie-Helene.
Written October 5, 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.
ptasia
Mazury, Poland38 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
As a fan of all things retro/vintage, I was keen to visit this place; admittedly, the fact that we were staying just round the corner was a bonus. It's a fully restored 19th C. house, with lots of artefacts, photos and mementos dating to the 1800s and early 1900s. You have to take a guided tour, but this means you can ask all kinds of questions; unfortunately we arrived on a Sunday afternoon, when there was a special event starting & while we were able to visit, I had a feeling our guide was rushing us a bit & we could have stayed especially in the attic/servants' quarters exhibition a bit longer. My favourite place was the large, light bedroom with the Edwardian dress in the corner and photos of the young nurse.
There's a question below about hot weather - we were doing the sightseeing on a warm day & the house was pleasantly cool, however, there were no other people in the rooms apart from us & the guide & the occassional other member of staff.
There's a question below about hot weather - we were doing the sightseeing on a warm day & the house was pleasantly cool, however, there were no other people in the rooms apart from us & the guide & the occassional other member of staff.
Written September 19, 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.
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