The Mackenzie King Estate

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Open
From May to October : Weekdays from 11 am to 5 pm. Weekends and holidays from 11 am to 6pm. Open Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving. 

Cost
Bus tours $45/day; car $8/day; season's pass for cars $48 giving access to all the Park's services, excluding the camping sites, Mackenzie King Estate and
Beaches, including Meech Lake, Lake Phillippe and Lake LaPeche) of
the Gatineau Park.

***The times are not likely to change although the prices could change without notice. Please feel free to inquire about the current prices. (819) 827-2020 or 1 800 465-1867 (toll-free).
 

Services
Visitors are welcomed by interpreters stationed at the period cottages at both Moorside and Kingswood. A film of the life and times of Mackenzie King can be seen at the Kingswood and Moorside Theatres. 

Groups
Group tours and youth activities are available throughout the season. Call (613) 239-5100 or 1 800 461-8020 for reservations. Fees for guided tour: private organizations $60; school groups and non-profit groups $50. Maximum of 35 participants per group. 

How to get to the Estate
The Estate is located only 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Take Highway 5 north to Exit 12. Turn left onto Old Chelsea Road. Old Chelsea Road becomes Meech Lake Road. Turn left onto the Gatineau Parkway and eventually turn right onto the Champlain Parkway. Then, follow the signs to the Estate.

You can also take the Gatineau Parkway north from Alexandre-Taché Boulevard in Hull. Follow the Gatineau Parway until you see the Champlain Parkway on your left. Turn left onto the Champlain Parkway anf follow the signs to the Estate.

Did You Know?

• Mackenzie King was Prime Minister of Canada for twenty-two years: that was not only a record for Canada but for the entire Commonwealth. 
• Mackenzie King kept a detailed diary for all of his adult life. His notes and descriptions have allowed the National Capital Commission to restore the Estate with the highest degree of accuracy. 
• To give his property a more distinguished appearance, King collected stones to erect ruins scattered through the gardens. If you look carefully, you can even find the Coat of Arms of the original Parliament Buildings in Britain! 
• The Estate is said to be haunted possibly because King died there or because of King's own psychic activities. King had an avid interest in spiritualism and sometimes invited mediums to his Estate for private consultations. 

A Beautiful Retreat
Mackenzie King fell in love with the beauty of the Kingsmere area as a young civil servant. It served as his refuge from the strains of political life for nearly half a century. 

The Mackenzie King Estate has three cottages and several outbuildings restored to King's time. Kingswood, a small summer cottage overlooking the lake, evokes the early 1900s. Moorside, a more permanent home, depicts King's as a senior statesman during the Depression and the Second World War. Both give you a rare glimpse at the private side of a public figure. 

The Mackenzie King Estate is known for its gardens and grounds. King modelled his property on an English country estate, taking enormous efforts to ensure that every aspect was perfect. Formal gardens grace the lawns of Moorside while rock gardens almost disappear into the woods. Much of the Estate is forested and you can enjoy walks along trails and streams. 

The Ruins
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the Estate are the "ruins" stone architectural features that King erected on his property. These pieces were designed to beautify the landscape, to frame views and to provide areas for rest and contemplation. 

The "ruins" had symbolic associations for King. Stones from Canada's and Britain's houses of Parliament are joined together to show the link between the two countries. A fireplace contains three stones from the house of his grandfather (and namesake) political activist William Lyon Mackenzie to represent the fires of freedom. 

Visiting the Estate

Friendly, knowledgeable interpreters are on hand to answer your questions and share information about King's life and times. Videos give the flavour of the period, providing insight into the personality of Canada's tenth Prime Minister and the events that he influenced during his time in office. The lovely gardens and walking trails that King created are just as interesting to explore today. 

You can imagine that you are having tea at the Prime Ministers. A tea room serving light meals is located at Moorside. Reservations: (819) 827-3405

Special programs such as tea parties or old-fashioned picnics take place throughout the summer.

To See and To Do at the Estate

• Visit the restored cottages. 
• See a film on King's life and times. 
• Stroll in the gardens. 
• Photograph the ruins. 
• Admire the falls and panoramas.
• Enjoy a light meal at the Moorside Tearoom. Reservations:  (819) 827-3405

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Gatineau Park Visitor Center at the following phone number: 827-2020 or 1 800 465-1867 (toll-free).

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