Ross House Museum

Ross House, which served as the first Post Office in Western Canada, is one of the last remaining examples of Red River frame architecture in Winnipeg. In 1949, the house was saved from demolition by the Manitoba Historical Society and, after several relocations, the MHS operated it as a museum for 30 years. In 1984, the Museum was moved to its present location in Joe Zuken Heritage Park, and ownership was transferred to the City of Winnipeg. The MHS continues to operate Ross House Museum on behalf of the City, with the oversight of a Management Committee. The building itself is as much a part of the museum as the artifacts it contains. It is made almost entirely of oak timber. All the logs used for construction were hand carved. The museum hosts an interpretive exhibit as well as rooms set to reflect the life of the Ross family when their home served as the Post Office. Ross House Museum provides a glimpse into the operation of the early postal service in Western Canada, as well as 1850s homestead life in general, and the lives of the Ross family in particular.