The Ghosts of Seven Oaks House Museum: Winnipeg’s Historic Haunt



Tucked away in the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Seven Oaks House Museum stands as a beautifully preserved remnant of Canada’s fur trade era. Built between 1851 and 1853 by prominent settler and politician John Inkster, this stately Georgian-style home is now a museum showcasing life in 19th-century Red River. But beneath its historic charm and creaking floorboards lies a reputation that’s far more spectral Seven Oaks House is one of Winnipeg’s most haunted places.

A Home Steeped in History

Seven Oaks House is the oldest residential building in Winnipeg still on its original foundations. The property witnessed key moments in Manitoba's early history, from the rise of the fur trade to the tension between settlers and Indigenous communities during the Red River Rebellion. The Inkster family lived in the home for generations, and many believe that some of them never truly left.

Ghostly Residents of Seven Oaks

Staff, visitors, and paranormal investigators have reported a wide variety of unexplained phenomena in and around the house. The most common include:   

• Apparitions of a woman in period dress, thought to be one of John Inkster’s daughters, who has been seen wandering the upper floors.   
• Phantom footsteps echoing through empty rooms, especially in the attic and hallways.   
• The sounds of children laughing or playing, even when no children are present in the house.   
• Sudden cold spots in rooms with no windows open or ventilation.   
• Lights flickering or turning off and on of their own accord.

Perhaps most intriguingly, many visitors have reported the feeling of being watched or accompanied by an unseen presence, particularly in the home’s parlour and upstairs bedrooms.

The Haunted Mirror

One of the museum’s most infamous haunted artifacts is a large Victorian mirror that once belonged to the Inkster family. Multiple guests and staff members claim to have seen faces reflected in the glass that weren't there in the room, or to have witnessed the mirror fog up as if someone had breathed on it despite no one being near it. The mirror has become something of a legend in Winnipeg’s paranormal circles, drawing curious thrill-seekers to the museum’s evening events and ghost tours.

Paranormal Investigations

Seven Oaks House has been the subject of several paranormal investigations, many of which have recorded EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena), EMF fluctuations, and temperature anomalies. Some investigations suggest that the spiritual activity is intelligent rather than residual, meaning the spirits are aware of and occasionally interact with the living. Despite the spooky stories, the spirits of Seven Oaks are not considered malevolent. They are believed to be protective guardians of the home, possibly family members watching over the place they loved in life.

Haunted Tours and Events

The museum leans into its ghostly reputation, particularly around Halloween, offering guided ghost tours and special late-night investigations. These events offer a chance to explore the home after dark and learn about both its historical and paranormal legacies. Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras, as anomalies have reportedly appeared in photos, including orbs, misty shapes, and on rare occasions, full apparitions.

A Living Legacy

The Seven Oaks House Museum is not just a relic of the past it’s a living, breathing piece of Canadian history, and if the stories are to be believed, that history is still very much alive in spectral form. Whether you’re drawn to its role in Manitoba’s early development or its chilling reputation for hauntings, this museum offers a unique glimpse into both the past and the paranormal. So if you ever find yourself in Winnipeg, take a step inside the Seven Oaks House… but don’t be surprised if someone from the 1800s is already there to greet you