Step Back in Time at Roedde House Museum
Step into history at Roedde House Museum in Vancouver’s West End! Explore a restored 1893 home, enjoy events, and experience Victorian life.
Heritage House
Vancouver, BC - March 2, 2025 - Nestled in Vancouver’s West End at 1415 Barclay Street, the Roedde House Museum offers a captivating glimpse into late-Victorian life. Built in 1893 for German immigrant Gustav Roedde, the city’s first bookbinder, this Queen Anne revival-style home, designed by famed architect Francis Rattenbury, stands as a testament to Vancouver’s early middle-class heritage. Restored by the Roedde House Preservation Society since 1990, its eleven rooms brim with period artifacts, some donated by the Roedde family, creating an immersive experience where visitors can step beyond velvet ropes and touch history.
In 1893, the City of Vancouver was only seven years old, and there were no bookbinders at all. At that time, bookbinding was as important as tablets and computers are today, making Gustav Roedde's arrival a crucial development for the growing city.
Born in 1860 in Großbodungen, Thuringia, Germany, Gustav learned his craft in Leipzig before emigrating in 1881. He first arrived in Ohio, where he met his future wife Matilda, originally from Helgoland, a German archipelago in the North Sea. Together, they traveled to the Pacific Northwest—first to Victoria and then to Vancouver, which had been founded only a few years earlier in 1886. By 1888, he had established Vancouver's first bookbindery. The business later merged with a printer's and still exists today as G.A. Roedde Printers under new ownership.
Gustav’s success allowed him to build this impressive Victorian-style house, where he and Matilda raised six children. Some of their descendants still live and work in Vancouver, maintaining an active interest in the home.
A tour through the Roedde House Museum offers visitors a window into the past, illustrating what life was like for an upper-middle-class immigrant family over 120 years ago. Visitors can see what objects were used daily and how everyday life unfolded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Younger visitors may find it especially engaging to watch a video featuring Gustav's granddaughters, Gwen and Kay, who share firsthand memories of growing up in the home at the start of the 20th century.
Today, the museum remains a vibrant cultural hub within Barclay Heritage Square. Recent updates include refreshed exhibits showcasing Victorian craft traditions, such as sustainable paper marbling, reflecting Gustav’s trade. As of March 2, 2025, the museum is gearing up for its next event: the Tea & Tour on March 30 2025 offering guided tours, tea, and cookies for $15 (general admission) or $10 (seniors). The 2025 Vancouver Inter-Cultural Concert Series kicks off later this year, featuring monthly classical and jazz performances in the parlour, with tickets at $15 for adults and $12 for students/seniors.
Becoming a member is simple and supports this heritage gem. Visit roeddehouse.org, navigate to the membership section, and choose an annual plan—$25 for individuals or $40 for families—granting free admission, event discounts, and a stake in preserving Vancouver’s past. Join today and connect with history in the heart of the city.
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