Dundurn Park — Attraction in Hamilton

Dundurn Castle is a historic neoclassical mansion on York Boulevard in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The 18,000-square-foot (1,700 m2) house took three years and $175,000 to build, and was completed in 1835.1] The forty room castle featured the latest conveniences of gas lighting and running water.[1] It is currently owned by the City of Hamilton, which purchased it in 1899 or 1900 for $50,000.[2 The City has spent nearly $3 million renovating the site to make it open to the public.[1] The rooms have been restored to the year 1855 when its owner Sir Allan Napier MacNab, 1st Baronet, was at the height of his career. Costumed interpreters guide visitors through the home, illustrating daily life from the 1850s. The Duchess of Cornwall, a descendant of Sir Allan MacNab, is the Royal Patron of Dundurn Castle.

Dundurn Castle, a Regency house, was completed in 1835 by architect Robert Charles Wetherell.[3] MacNab purchased the property from Richard Beasley, one of Hamilton's early settlers, when financial difficulties forced Beasley to sell lands at Burlington Heights (present day Dundurn Park), and MacNab built Dundurn Castle on the foundations of Beasley's brick home.[4] Once built, Dundurn Castle became famous all over the country for its grand entertainments. Sir John A. Macdonald and King Edward VII are among those who have been entertained there.[5]

Sir Allan MacNab, later Premier of the united Province of Canada between 1854 and 1856, hired architect Robert Wetherall and construction of this stately home was completed in 1835. The pillars and portico were added in 1855 as part of the preparations for the wedding of MacNab's daughter Sophia.[6]

After MacNab's death, the estate was used as an institution for deaf mutes, then was purchased in 1872 by Donald McInnes, who sold Dundurn to the City of Hamilton in 1899.[2] In the late 1960s, it was restored as a Centennial project. It is now designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.

A Strathspey for bagpipes was composed in honour of...

Run down, unkempt, and horribly managed

With tickets purchased online we were still told that we don't have a guaranteed spot in a tour - after standing in a long line. So even with a ticket that was bought well in advance, for today, we did not have a spot in a tour until 2 hours later - and that was subject to availability.

What's the point of having online ticket purchases?

The place looks run down, the insides are worn and the grounds are dirty.

The tour guide we had was clear, concise and spoke with confidence. It was a fine tour.

The little history museum was nice - but it's truly small. One room in the ground floor and 2 rooms on the top floor, with a dozen showpiece between the three rooms.

If better care was taken by the staff it might have been an enjoyable visit, but the ones in charge of planning need to update their methods.

Don't make this a...

Wery nice.Both the park area and the castle inside are really worth seeing. While visiting the park, you can also see the castle's structures. The parking lot here is very large and there are enough parking spaces reserved for the disabled. Very nice sitting areas and benches have been made. They also have a protective roof over them to protect them from the sun and rain. Families can always have a picnic here. It is a park where you can come with children. In this large area, there is a vegetable production area belonging to the castle. Food was produced here for those living in the castle. It was designed very nicely and it is still in production. Young girls are dressed as they were in those days and bring those days to life. In another building, there are materials and items related to the war. Come briefly, you...