Vignettes
/ Greater Winnipeg
/ Pavilion-York
Riel House
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Riel House was built in 1880-81. The land on which the
house stands (lot 51), had been given to Julie Riel on
the death of her husband in 1864 by Bishop Taché o.m.i.
. Julie and her children first lived in a house at the
Seine River end of Lot 51. Most of the timbers from this
building were re-used in the construction of the present
house, here at the Red River end of the lot.
Louis Riel himself never actually resided in this house.
He visited only briefly in the summer of 1883, but it was
here that Riel's body lay in state for two days in December
of 1885 following his execution for his involvement in
the North-West Rebellion. It was also in this house that
his young wife, Marguerite, died in May of 1886.
