Chateau Ramezay, Montreal

The Chateau Ramezay is a historic site on the rise overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It was built in 1705 and 1706 by Claude de Ramezay, then governor of Montreal. The house has three stories and is 66 feet wide and 26 feet deep. It was a huge residence. Ramezay had an orchard and a garden put in around the house. He had married into a prominent family and their residence showed their prominence. Ramezay died in 1724. The property passed through various owners after the family sold it. When the British took over in 1764, it went through various British hands until it became the seat of the governor. When the national government of Canada moved to Toronto in 1849, the house lost most of its civic use, eventually winding up in the hands of the Antiquarian and Numismatic Society of Montreal. Founded by historians, the society used the building as a historical repository, eventually opening it to the public as a museum in 1895. The house went through various minor renovations and is still a museum today. 

Entrance to Chateau Ramezay

With the excellent water landing on the river, the area had been used for a long time before the British or the French showed up.

Model of the previous natives' settlement

Model of the 1706 house

A larger model

Some of the rooms in the house have been restored to various historical periods, starting from the first period, the early 1700s. 

Tapestry and furniture from the 18th century

Artifacts from the natives

One source of wealth in the area was beaver fur which became quite fashionable in Europe. Like all fashions, it died out eventually, but not before the area became developed enough to continue growing.

The big industry--beaver furs!

The area was settled by the French first, so many Catholic artifacts from their early days are on display.

Religious items

A portrait gallery shows various significant Montrealers and the opulence of a bygone era.

A room for entertaining

Beautiful chandelier

The building occasionally served as a military headquarters, including during the American War for Independence. In 1775, the American Revolutionary Army invaded Canada, hoping to get the residents on the side of independence from Britain. The Americans left in 1776 when British reinforcements arrived.

The fort that became Pittsburgh

Some weapons

Ben Franklin was here

An artistic adornments above a doorway

I neglected to take down information about this guy

In the 1800s, fashions changed and new things showed the wealth of the house's owners.

Cowboys and more!

Living the good life

High society stuff (including sunglasses!)

Objects from the 1900s are also on display, including a horseless carriage! 

More modern items

Montreal motto and coat of arms

Another exhibit shows items from the pre-European-contact Amerindians and explains their attitudes towards religion and society.

Amerindian culture

Relics

The tour goes into the basement where the exhibits are a bit more hands-on. The rooms show various functions from the earlier period of the house. The first stop features a window sink that drains to the outside.

A place to wash all sorts of things

Kitchen fireplace

The large wheel to the right of the fireplace was for dogs or other small animals to get in and run. A pulley system connected the wheel to the spit for roasts, turning the roast using human ingenuity, not human power.

Another kitchen room, with laundry

The house was big enough to have its own bar!

Alcohol station (no samples available)

A table is set up for a formal dinner. The kids did not want to pose there.

A meal setting fit for royalty?

A typical bed for the upper class

One interactive exhibit has visitors guessing which foods are favorites for various family members.

Again, no children!

Our experience ended with a display on Roald Amundsen called "Lessons from the Arctic." The exhibit recounts Amundsen's time with Canadian Inuits and how he learned information and skills that helped in his explorations of the South Pole in the 1910s. Amundsen was the first to get to the South Pole.

Amundsen exhibit

We learned a lot of Montreal history in one spot with the Chateau Ramezay!