Going Up The Stairs
I'll go in to detail of each room of the castle, feel free to look at the pictures of the rooms in Gallary.
It's best to go take a look before reading because the descriptions will make more sense. Many of the original artifcats from the home 118 years ago.
were sold off. So the Castle only has about 5% left. That is why I'm going to point out as much as I can so that you may recognize them the next time you come and visit.
These are the rooms you will pass by going up the main stairs. You'll be taking a different set of stair case going down.
First Floor
1. Porte - cochere Entrance
This was the main entrance used by Joan Dunsmuir and her guests. The panelling and ceiling are believed to be western red cedar.
The floor tires come from Minton Tile Company, England.
2. Main Hall
Panelling in the Main Hall and Stairwell is made of white oak and was manufactured by A.H. Andrews & Company, Chicago, Illinois.
There's a quotation on the Main Hall Fireplace, it says: "Welcome ever smiles and farewell goes out sighing". Theis is actually from
Shakespeare's play, Troilus and Cressida. The clock on the mantle is original to the Main hal. The Garden Entrance alcove
(arched door to the right of the fire place) houses a hallstand original to the home.
3. Library
The woodwork is Spanish mahogany. Note: The unusual fireplace where the flue is bent to go around the window located above the fireplace. The portrait on either side of the fireplace are Joan and Robert Dunsmuir. Robert died in 1889 before the Castle was completed so he never got to live in it. The cylindrical radiators on either side of the bay window are part of the house's original heating system and were pattented in 1874. The original stained glass in the bay window may have been chosen to depict the Dunsmuir's Scottish and English heritage.
4. Drawing Room
The stained glass window depicting a woman and a swan is a reproduction of the original; all other windows in the room are original. The 1898 Stein way comes from Hatley Park, home of the Dunsmuir's eldest son James. A fine art conservator has recently (a month ago) restored the original hand painted ceiling. He removed 5 layers of house paiant. The ceiling received its first coat of institutional paint in 1935 during the Victoria College period.
5. Dinning Room
Second Floor
6. Mrs. Dunsmir's Sitting Room
7. Exhibit Area
8. Women's Washroom
9. Jessie's Bedroom
10. Victoria College Room
Third Floor
11. Billiard Room
12. Robert Harvey's Bedroom
It is believed this room was occupied by Robert Dunsmir Harvey, Mrs. Dunsmuir's orphaned, 12 year old grandson. Robert moved into the Castle when Joan first took up residence in 1890.
13. Effie's Bedroom
Dunsmuir's daughter, Effie, used this as her bedroom. the wall and ceiling surfaces are finished with calcimne (the type of paint that was originally used in this room), and they ahve been restored to the original color. Calcimine was most often used in modest homes. The recently- installed Brussels caret is a reproduction of an 1885 design using authentic manuafacturing techniques.
Fourth Floor
14. Dance Hall
15. The Tower
16. The Staircase
This was added in 1994 as part of a public safety upgrade of the house. The original use of the room that the staircase leads into has not yet been determined.