Rutherford House

Rutherford House is a historic building and museum in the Strathcona district of Edmonton, Alberta. The two-story residence was built in 1911 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, who went down in history as the first premier of the province of Alberta. The family lived in the house, originally named Achnacarry after their Scottish ancestral home, until 1940. The architecture combines Elizabethan and Jacobean style elements with a red brick facade and sandstone details. Eye-catching features include the tall chimneys, the columned verandas, and the two-story bay windows. Inside, the high ceilings, a magnificent oak staircase in the central hallway, and a large pantry with decorative spruce beams stand out. When the building was slated to make way for the planned expansion of the university in the 1960s, the efforts of local associations succeeded in preventing its demolition.

Today the house is operated as a provincial historic site and is open to visitors. After a three-year restoration, it was opened to the public in 1974. The rooms display many original artifacts donated by family members, including a portrait of the premier in the library. After the Rutherfords moved out, the building briefly served as a residence for members of a fraternity before passing to the provincial government. Here you can delve into Alberta's political and social history and see the carefully preserved interior, which offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of the early 1900s. The museum is managed by the provincial government and supported by a nonprofit society dedicated to preserving and promoting this cultural heritage.