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Dr John Sebastian Helmcken set up house here when in 1852 he married the
daughter of Governor Sir James Douglas. Originally a three room log house,
the house was built by Helmcken and expanded as both the prosperity and
size of the family grew. A surgeon with the Hudson's Bay Company, he went
on to become a statesman and helped negotiate the entry of British Columbia
into Canada, as a province.
Now the oldest house in British Columbia on its original site, and surrounded
by all the attractions and activity around Victoria's Inner Harbour, Helmcken
House offers you a fascinating glimpse into the way life was lived over
a hundred years ago. One of the most intriguing collections you'll be
able to examine at Helmcken is the good doctor's original 19th century
medical kit. Across Elliot Street Square from the house is St Anne's Schoolhouse
-- of similar vintage and open to group tours by advance reservation.
Helmcken House and
Elliot Street Square are in the heart of Victoria's sparkling Inner Harbour
district, right beside the Royal British Columbia Museum and adjacent
to Thunderbird Park, where totem poles are often being carved. A large
pay parking lot is situated on the south side of the Museum.
OUR HOURS
May to September - 10 am to 5 pm daily
October to December and February to April - noon to 4 pm
The house is
closed all of January.
The grounds are
always accessible.
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