Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan Crescent V8S 3L5 Victoria, BC, Canada

Christmas is in the air at The Castle Gift Shop

Watch this space as we ask you to help the Castle continue it's legacy by signing up to become a member. We will have more information coming out soon!

Keep a look out for our antique children’s toys the next time you take a wander through the Castle. Robert Harvey’s room, grandson of Robert and Joan features an array of toys, including these tin, 1900 French military soldiers and 1895 tin alligator!

The Gift Shop is ready to welcome you this festive season. All jewelry, journals, mugs and Celtic products are currently 20% off, so stop by and check out our wide selection of gifts and souvenirs.

The Castle tonight - during filming!

How the Castle looks tonight.

We are excited to announce that we will be re-opening The Castle doors again on June 15th. With lots of new procedures in place to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff, we can’t wait to welcome you back. The Castle will be open by facilitated tours only, which are bookable in advance here http://bit.ly/CCastleTourTickets or by calling 250.592.5323 Each tour takes around 75 minutes and can include up to 8 people. One of our Friendly team members will guide you thr...ough the Castle sharing its stories and answering all your questions. Tours for immuno-compromised and high-risk individuals will be available during the first tour of the day on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Masks are mandatory for all Castle visitors. The Visitor Centre, including The Castle Gift Shop, will also be open with safety protocols in place. The Jingle Pot Café will remain closed for the remainder of 2020. Small weddings and other events can be accommodated during this time. Craigdarroch Castle is following policies and procedures for re-opening, put into place by WorksafeBC, the Provincial Health Officer and the Province of British Columbia.

November 11th, 2020 marks 102 years since the Armistice in 1918 ending the First World War. On Remembrance Day, join Craigdarroch Castle and the Victoria-Esquimalt Military Reenactors' Association (VEMRA) to learn and remember the sacrifices made by ordinary men and women both at home and abroad. Beginning at 10:00, VEMRA will have displays and period clothing to share stories about the various roles played by both men and women during times of conflict, and at 11:00 we encourage you to join us in a reading of John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' and a moment of silence.

November movie nights continue this Thursday evening with House on Haunted Hill. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the front desk during daily operational hours.

Taken by our Curator Bruce. Safe to say he is proud of the work that he, Danielle and Sherry have done. We love it!

Join us this month and next for Thursday evening movies at The Castle! This Thursday, November 5 we will be showing the 1922 Vampire film Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online, by phone, or at the front desk.

Fifteen-year-old Elsie stumbles onto the scene at her new jobserving the affluent Dunsmuir family in Craigdarroch Castle alongside her widowed mother. Elsie feels her future has never been so bleak. Feeling trapped in her new life, she uncovers a hidden talent for acting that catapults her to the forefront of the family’s parties. Canada’s West Coast history comes alive in this classic, coming-of-age story. Kay Jordan’s new novel, Through the Gate is available NOW in The Castle gift shop.

There have been a number of spooky characters hanging out around The Castle today.. Including this absolutely terrifying father daughter duo Lilly and Warren.

Stop by The Castle’s gift shop before, after, or independently from your visit to the castle! There are plenty of Craigdarroch souvenirs, alongside many local goodies!

Why not take an autumnal stroll through Ross Bay Cemetery and visit with Robert, Joan, and the whole Dunsmuir family!

Here’s a fun artifact, a Face Powder Box (circa 1925) manufactured by Edna Wallace Hopper Inc. Yup, you read that right, Edna Wallace Hopper, step-daughter of Alexander Dunsmuir! Edna had her very own line of health and beauty products, this powder box included! There’s even some powder left behind, what an artifactual treat. You can read more about this Craigdarroch artifact and many more on The Castle’s public collection site: https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/4688.

The strong willed Joan Dunsmuir. Mother of ten, wife of the province’s wealthiest self-made man, and head of Craigdarroch. Joan was left in charge of her husband’s businesses and estate upon his death in 1889, remaining in the home until her own death in 1908. Learn more about this remarkable matriarch during your next visit to Craigdarroch Castle.

Happy Thanksgiving, The Castle is open 10-4:30 today. Our staff and volunteers are thankful for all of YOU today, your support is so important for the museum, it’s history, restoration, and daily operations.

Fog looks good on The Castle. Wouldn’t you agree? Photo taken by Castle staff member Beverly.

There’s no better time than October to share ghost stories with friends, family, and skeletons.. The Castle’s gift shop has got you covered, stocked with books and calendars on Victoria’s most haunted locations. Can’t make it in? Contact us at 250-592-5323 and ask for the gift shop!

There are still some tickets available for FRANKENSTEIN. Details can be found within the attached post.

Did you know that The Castle will be open on Halloween? Costumes optional, masks required . Open 10-4:30, book your October 31 tickets online or by phone before they run out! Photo courtesy of https://instagram.com/tollbooth10?igshid=y8xf9xbdmyiy.

Keep a look out for the Ouija-board the next time you're exploring the third floor billiards room. This particular board was bought by the Bossi family in 1914 where it stayed until it was donated to The Castle's collection. Did you know that you can read all about the board and other pieces in the collection online through our collection portal? https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/7279

The spookiest season of them all is upon us and The Castle’s got a treat for you (and some possible tricks..)! Jason Stevens will be performing his one-man performance of Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN for visitors brave enough to experience The Castle after hours. Shows run Thursday evenings, beginning at 6pm. Tickets are available online, by phone, or for purchase in the visitor centre.

VICTORIAN WOMEN AND PARLOUR ART PART III - Taxidermy. This Wednesday, join castle supervisor Eliane for the final instalment of the Victorian Women and Parlour Art series. The blog post will go live Wednesday and will be available here https://thecastle.ca/blogs/news. [Fig. 1] H. O’Neill & Co. No. 9, Fine millinery: fall and winter styles for ladies, misses and children, 1899-1900, New York, 1899. Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/finemillineryfal00hone/mode/2up