Riel House, National historic site in St. Vital, Winnipeg, Canada.
Riel House is a wooden home built in 1880 using Red River Frame construction, a traditional building method of the region. The interior preserves original furnishings and household items from the nineteenth century.
Built in 1880–1881 on a river lot granted to Julie Lagimodière-Riel in 1864, the house was her home and that of her children. Louis Riel stayed there only in summer 1883 and for a few days in December 1885, when his body lay in state in the family parlour for two days before burial at Saint-Boniface. In 1896 Joseph Riel opened Saint-Vital's first post office in an annex.
The house shows how Métis families lived and worked in the Red River Settlement during that time. You can see the everyday objects and rooms that shaped their daily rhythm.
The site is accessible with guided tours from June through August, managed by Parks Canada. Visitors should check ahead since operations follow a seasonal schedule.
The house was restored to look exactly as it did in spring 1886, with authentic furniture and materials from that time. This attention to detail makes walking through the rooms feel like stepping back in time.
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