Emily Carr House facts for kids
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| Established | 1976 |
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| Location | 207 Government Street Victoria, British Columbia V8V 2K8 |
| Type | Historic Site and Cultural Centre |
Emily Carr House is a special place in Victoria, British Columbia. It is known as a National Historic Site of Canada. This house was the childhood home of famous Canadian painter and writer, Emily Carr. Living here left a big mark on her art and stories.
The Early Days of Emily Carr's Home
Building the Carr Family House
The Carr House was built in 1863 for the wealthy Carr family. It was first located at 44 Carr Street on a large piece of land owned by Emily Carr's father, Richard. The house was designed in a style called Italianate. This style was popular at the time and often featured wide eaves and tall windows. The architects were Wright & Sanders, who also designed another important building, the Fisgard Lighthouse.
Life in 19th Century Victoria
The area around Carr House was a busy part of Victoria in the 1800s. Many important people lived there, like merchants, business owners, and politicians. For example, the Dunsmuir family, who were very influential, lived nearby. They also had other grand buildings built, such as Helmcken House. The Carr House itself is a great example of the Italianate villa style from that time.
Emily Carr's Childhood Memories
The house is most famous because of its connection to Emily Carr. She was born in 1871 and spent much of her life near her family home. The surroundings deeply influenced her, and she wrote about them in all her books. In her 1942 book, The Book of Small, Emily described Carr Street and her house around 1880:
Our street was called Carr Street after my Father. We had a very nice house and a lovely garden... Carr Street was a very fine street. The dirt road waved up and down and in and out. the horses made it that way, zigzagging the carts and carriages through it. The rest of the street was green grass and wild roses. [...] In front of our place Father had made a gravel walk but after our trees stopped there were just two planks to walk on. As far back as I can remember Father's place was all made and in order. The house was large and well-built, of Californian redwood, the garden prim and carefully tended. Everything about it was extremely English. It was as though Father had buried tremendous homesickness in this new soil and it had rooted and sprung up English. There were hawthorn hedges, primrose banks, and cow pastures with shrubberies."
Emily's Artistic Journey and Family Homes
Emily lived in the house for most of her childhood. Later, she left to study art in places like San Francisco, London, and Paris. When her father passed away in 1888, her older sister, Edith Carr, took over the property. Edith divided the land into smaller pieces and sold them. The Carr sisters kept five of these lots for themselves.
When Emily returned to Victoria in 1913, she built her own house next to Carr House. This new home was at 646 Simcoe Street. Her time there is remembered in her 1944 book, The House of All Sorts. That house is still standing today and has a special mural she painted on the attic roof. This mural was inspired by First Nations art. Emily's sisters, Edith and Alice, also built houses near Carr House. Alice Carr House was used as a kindergarten by Alice, and Emily sometimes taught art lessons there.
Bringing the Carr House Back to Life
From Private Home to Historic Site
The Carr House stayed in the Carr family for some years. Then, it was sold to a private owner who rented it out. After a fire in 1938, the building was changed a lot to make it more modern. In 1964, a parliament member named David Groos saved the house from being torn down. Three years later, he gave it to the Emily Carr Foundation. They used it as an art gallery and school called the Emily Carr Arts Centre. In 1976, the government of British Columbia bought the property. They helped to bring the building back to its original look.
Careful Restoration Work
The house was carefully restored by two different architects. They removed many of the modern changes that had been added since the 1800s. The original wood finishes, which Emily Carr had mentioned, were brought back to life. The outside of the house was returned to its first design and color. This was done by looking at old photos from Emily Carr's time. The inside of the house also looks like it did originally. Workers carefully removed layers of newer paint and wallpaper to find the first patterns and colors used inside.
Finding and Replacing Old Treasures
Most of the original items from the home were gone over time. However, a few have been found and restored. The Carr family Bible was recovered, along with some of the original door and window parts. Most items in the house today are copies of the originals or other items from that time period. For example, the piano in the parlour once belonged to the Carr family's neighbors.
Carr House Today: A Cultural Hub
Today, Carr House is a cultural center. It celebrates Emily Carr's life through tours that happen at certain times of the year. It also has changing art displays, special programs, and events. The Province of British Columbia owns the house, and a site manager runs it. Carr House is located at 207 Government Street. It's just six blocks from Victoria's Inner Harbour and the Parliament Buildings. Around the historic rooms, there is a beautiful Victorian-style garden. During the summer, you can take tours of Carr House by making an appointment. Throughout the rest of the year, programs and events are held. These events often focus on themes from Emily Carr's life, such as art, caring for the environment, respecting First Nations communities, and supporting new artists and writers. Workshops on preserving history and gardening are also offered.
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