Peter Erasmus House, built around 1861, is Edmonton's oldest standing building
The two-storey log cabin now sits in Fort Edmonton Park. Erasmus himself was a Métis interpreter and signatory to Treaty 6.
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The Peter Erasmus House, believed built around 1861, is Edmonton's oldest standing building—constructed before the electric lightbulb was invented. The exact construction date remains unknown. The two-storey log cabin, built with dovetail corner joints and mud and plaster packed between logs for insulation, originally stood near Victoria Mission in what is now Smoky Lake County before being moved to Fort Edmonton Park in 1974. Each floor contained a single room.
Peter Erasmus, born in 1833 in the Red River Settlement in Manitoba, did not build the house that bears his name. Erasmus had a Danish father and a Métis mother and spoke 10 languages. He was an interpreter for Cree chiefs during negotiations with the Canadian government and participated in Treaty 6 negotiations in 1876, becoming a signatory to the treaty.
Erasmus bought the log cabin in 1885 when he moved to the area to teach at a school. He lived in the house until 1906. Members of the Erasmus family remained in the house until 1941, when they left it and the land to the municipality because of high property taxes. Erasmus died in 1931 at Whitefish Lake at the age of 98.
The Peter Erasmus House now sits in the Settlement area of Fort Edmonton Park, next to McCauley's Livery Stable and the Métis Camp, as a physical reminder of Edmonton's pre-provincial past.
The facts
When was the Peter Erasmus House built?
The Peter Erasmus House is believed to have been built around 1861, though the exact construction date remains unknown.
Where did the Peter Erasmus House originally stand?
The house originally stood near Victoria Mission in what is now Smoky Lake County before being moved to Fort Edmonton Park in 1974.
Who was Peter Erasmus?
Peter Erasmus was born in 1833 in the Red River Settlement in Manitoba. He was a Métis interpreter who spoke 10 languages, served as an interpreter for Cree chiefs during treaty negotiations, and became a signatory to Treaty 6 in 1876.
How long did Peter Erasmus live in the house?
Peter Erasmus bought the log cabin in 1885 and lived in it until 1906. His family members remained in the house until 1941.
