Later History and Restoration
Emily Carr House passed through the Carr family for several years, before being sold to a private owner for use as a rental property. The building was extensively modernized following a fire in 1938. In 1964, MP David Groos saved the building from demolition and turned it over to the Emily Carr Foundation three years later, for use as an art gallery and school known as the Emily Carr Arts Centre. In 1976, the provincial government purchased the property, and helped return the building to its original condition.
The building was extensively restored by two different architects, undoing many of the additions and modernizations that had been added to the house since the 19th century. The wood finishes, mentioned by Carr, were restored from scratch, while the exterior of the house was returned to its original design and color using period photos from Emily Carr's lifetime. The interior of the house is faithful to the original, following the painstaking removal of layers of newer paint and wallpaper to discover the original pattern and colors used inside.
Most of the original artifacts in the home have long-since been replaced; however, a handful have been recovered and restored. The Carr family Bible was recovered, along with some of the original pieces of hardware for the doors and windows. Most items from the house have been replaced with replicas, or other period artifacts — such as the piano in parlour, which was originally owned by neighbours of the Carr family.
Emily Carr House is currently an interpretive centre for Carr's art, writings and life. It is operated by Clio Arts Associates Ltd. on behalf of the Province of British Columbia. Emily Carr House is located at 207 Government Street - follow the pavement of what was once Carr Street, named after Richard Carr, Emily's father. Carr House is just six blocks from Victoria's Inner Harbour and the beautiful Parliament Buildings designed by architect, Francis Rattenbury. It is the starting off point for anyone interested in learning more about this remarkable Canadian icon. In addition to the heritage rooms and artifacts on exhibit in the museum; Carr House is surrounded by a charming Victorian styled garden. In the spirit of Emily Carr it features a "People's Gallery", where local artists inspired by Emily Carr display their work.
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