Step back in time at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site. This gem sits in Old Montreal at Notre Dame and Berri streets. It’s a surprising heritage site. Here, you can discover a moment of relaxation away from the tourist hustle.
The Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site commemorates Sir George-Étienne Cartier’s life. The site showcases the architectural heritage of the 19th-century upper middle class. It features the adjoining homes of the Cartier family.
These two semi-detached houses were built around 1837. Sir George-Étienne Cartier, a distinguished statesman, lived here. He occupied the east house from 1848 to 1855. Then he lived in the west house from 1862 to 1872.
Cartier shared leadership of the Province of Canada with Sir John A. Macdonald. He was a principal architect of Confederation in 1867. He became a leading member of the first Dominion cabinet. He served as Minister of Militia and Defence.
In 1848, Cartier acquired the house. He installed gas heating and lighting. He chose this location to live and practice law in a desirable area. The Cartiers lived here for seven years.
The house was converted into a private hotel in 1871. From 1881 to 1884, the Department of Militia leased the building. It was known as the Grand Pacific Hotel.
In 1893, Montreal expropriated part of the house. This was to build the Berri Street tunnel. In 1939, the building became a boarding house.
Since 1964, the house has been a National Historic Site of Canada. The federal government acquired it in 1973. Parks Canada opened a historical interpretation museum in 1985.
The Cartier house consists of two identical gray stone houses. They are in the neoclassical style. They had one and a half stories above the ground floor. A carriage entrance separated the houses. It provided access to a stable-shed. In 1893, the house was reduced by 3.05 meters. It underwent significant interior and exterior transformations.
The Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site is valuable because of its association with Cartier. His political career spanned from 1848 to 1873. It also illustrates an upper-middle-class Montreal home in the 19th century. It shows both French and English architectural influences.
Key features include the amalgamation of two houses into one. This was done under a false-mansard roof in the Second Empire style. Also notable is the covered passage serving the houses. The cut-stone facade and rubble-stone rear elevation are significant. The plan of the west house, including basement, ground floor, and first floor are important. The vaulted side entry of the west house remains. Surviving original interior decoration includes woodwork. There’s a distinction between private and public rooms. The house is a rare example of mid-19th-century craftsmanship and size.
Today, the Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site stands as a testament to a pivotal figure in Canadian history. Explore this meticulously preserved home. Discover the life and times of Sir George-Étienne Cartier. Experience 19th-century Montreal.