Laurier House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laurier House |
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| Location | 335 Laurier Avenue East Ottawa, Ontario< K1N 6R4 |
| Built | 1878 |
| Original use | Residence |
| Current use | Museum |
| Architect | James Mather |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Website | Laurier House NHS |
| Official name: Laurier House National Historic Site | |
| Designated | 29 May 1956 |
| Reference no. | 464 |
Laurier House (also known as Maison Laurier in French) is a special place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It's a National Historic Site, which means it's an important part of Canada's history. This house used to be the home of two Canadian Prime Ministers. A Prime Minister is the leader of Canada's government.
The house is named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was one of the Prime Ministers who lived there. The other was William Lyon Mackenzie King. Today, Laurier House is a historic house museum. You can visit it for guided tours. It is open from May (around Victoria Day) until October (around Thanksgiving). You can find it at 335 Laurier Avenue East.
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The History of Laurier House
This interesting house was built in 1878. Over the years, it was changed quite a bit. It now shows styles from the Italianate period. You can also see hints of the Second Empire style in its design.
Home to Two Prime Ministers
Sir Wilfrid Laurier lived in this house for many years. He moved in during 1897 and stayed there until he passed away in 1919. After his death, his wife, Zoé Laurier, decided to leave the house to William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Mackenzie King then lived in Laurier House. He moved in during 1923 and lived there until he passed away in 1950. When he died, he gave the house to the Canadian Crown. This means it became property of the Canadian government.
A Special Place for Canada
For a short time, the government thought about making Laurier House the official home for all future Prime Ministers. However, the Prime Minister at that time, Louis St. Laurent, didn't think it was the best idea. Instead, another house, 24 Sussex Drive, was chosen. That house became the official residence for Prime Ministers in 1951.
Laurier House has welcomed many important people. Famous guests included King George VI and Sir Winston Churchill. Other notable visitors were Charles de Gaulle and Franklin D. Roosevelt. These visits show how important the house was for Canada.
Who Takes Care of Laurier House Today?
After Mackenzie King's death, a special law was made in 1951. This law, called the Laurier House Act, put the house and its land under the care of different groups. These groups included the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Department of Public Works. Library and Archives Canada also became involved.
Since 1988, Parks Canada has managed Laurier House. They run it as a public museum. Parks Canada is known for looking after Canada's national parks and historic sites. The NCC still helps by taking care of the grounds around the house. Also, the national archives still own all the old documents and items inside the house.
In 2022, a special plaque was placed at Laurier House. It honors Canada's first code-breaking unit. This unit played an important role in history.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Laurier para niños
