Craigdarroch Castle

Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a historic, Victorian-era Scottish baronial mansion. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to its landmark status in Victoria.

It was constructed in the late 19th century as a family residence for the wealthy coal baron Robert Dunsmuir and his wife Joan. Robert died on 12 April 1889, 17 months before construction on the castle was completed. His sons Alexander and James took over the role of finishing the home after his death. James also commissioned the construction of Victoria's second "castle": Hatley Castle located in Colwood, British Columbia.

Upon the death of Robert Dunsmuir's widow, Joan, the Craigdarroch estate was sold to land speculator Griffith Hughes for $38,000 who subdivided the estate into building lots. To stimulate sales during a slow real estate market, Griffiths announced that the home would be the subject of a raffle, to be won by one of the purchasers of the residential parcels carved from the estate. The winner, Solomon Cameron, mortgaged the home to finance other speculative ventures which failed, leaving him broke, and in 1919 ownership of the home passed to one of Cameron's creditors, the Bank of Montreal.

The building later served as a military hospital, college, offices, and a conservatory, before it was re-purposed as a historical museum in 1979. The museum is currently owned by the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society, which is a private non-profit society, and is open to the public. The building is a tourist attraction, and receives 150,000 visitors a year.

The building was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992.

Since its completion in 1890, the building had six major occupants, including:

Craigdarroch Castle is a historic Châteauesque mansion in Victoria, British Columbia, identified as a bonanza castle, a term used for large residences built during North America's industrial expansion by individuals who accumulated significant wealth. Constructed between 1887 and 1890, its total cost is uncertain, with estimates ranging from $185,000 to $500,000, including land and grounds. The building spans approximately 25,000 square feet and contains 37 rooms, 17 fireplaces, and a tower accessible by 87 steps.

Craigdarroch Castle was originally situated on a 28-acre estate. The name "Craigdarroch," derived from Gaelic, translates to "rocky, oak place," a reference to the surrounding Garry Oak meadow ecosystem in Victoria’s Rockland neighbourhood. The current property encompasses approximately 1.75 acres, including a south lawn.