You can walk through a 135-year-old Calgary mansion that’s hidden in plain sight

In a city like Calgary, which is full of modern buildings and new developments, there is a 135-year-old mansion still standing in the heart of the city. The Lougheed House is one of the city’s oldest surviving homes, and stepping inside feels like a shift back in time.

The mansion once belonged to one of Calgary’s most prominent families and remains carefully preserved. Today, visitors can walk through and glimpse what Calgary looked like long before the skyline we know existed.

A house with a long and layered history

According to the official website, the Lougheed House was built in 1891 and was home to Senator Sir James Lougheed and Lady Isabella Lougheed. The sandstone mansion was known for its impressive design and large gardens, and it served as a political and social hub in the city’s early days.

Following the Lougheed family’s time in the home, the property went through a period of transition as Calgary continued to grow and evolve. Rather than remaining a private residence, the mansion adapted to meet the community’s changing needs.

After 1936, it was repurposed for a variety of uses, including a women’s training facility, a YWCA boarding house, a Women’s Army Corps space, and later a Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic.

Today, the Lougheed House stands as a restored National and Provincial Historic site, with much of its original character still preserved.

What you can experience today

The best part about the Lougheed House is that you can actually go inside and spend time exploring it. Inside, you can walk through the restored rooms, where original details give you a sense of what the home would have looked like over a century ago.

Admission is only $6.50, making it an easy and affordable way to spend an hour or two doing something a little different. And if you want a deeper look into the history, you can also join a guided tour for an additional cost. These tours provide more context on the Lougheed family, the mansion’s role in early Calgary, and the various ways the building has been used over the years.

Outside the house, you’ll find the three-acre Beaulieu Gardens, filled with vibrant flower beds, tree-lined walkways, and plenty of quiet spots to sit and take in your surroundings.

Whether you spend your time wandering through the historic rooms or exploring the Beaulieu Gardens, there is plenty to see at the Lougheed House. And it’s pretty wild to think that while Calgary has continued to grow and change, the house has remained standing through it all.

Lougheed House

When: Open Thursday to Sunday
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 707 13th Ave. SW, Calgary, Alta.
Cost: $6.50 general admission

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