This stately museum in Souris was once a grand estate belonging to Fred and Maud Snowden. The son of pioneer William “Squire” Snowden, the family is most well-known for funding the construction of Souris’s famous Swinging Bridge.

Suitably, Fred’s home sits in view of the bridge on the banks of Souris River. Carter Hawkins Brindle, a local architect, designed the home, constructed in 1910. The house has a distinctive castle-like appearance, meant to resemble the castles of England and India. Crenellated towers, decorated with detailed brick corbelling, stand out across the rural Manitoba landscape. More intricate detail work can be found in the wooden parapet railings and the stained glass in the arched windows.

An etched glass entrance welcomes visitors into the home, and into view of the grand wooden staircase. There are many rooms available to explore, including Fred Snowden’s billiard room. Many original features still remain, including the wallpapering, woodwork, and pressed tin ceilings.

In 1990, the building was designated as Provincial Historic Resource and today showcases life in the early 1900s. Not everything in the home today belonged to the Snowden family; guests today are treated to a large butterfly collection, a vintage fire engine and Canadian Pacific Railway caboose.