Casa Loma

Our first order of business in Toronto was to visit Casa Loma, somewhere I'd always wanted to go. It was originally the home to Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, who brought hydro-electricity to Canada. The chateau has 98 rooms, took 300 men 3 years to build, and cost $3.5 million in 1911. 

Sir Henry began his life at Casa Loma in luxury but was only in the house for ten years. Following WWI, he had made some poor investments and was already failing financially when the city of Toronto raised the property taxes on Casa Loma from $600 a year to $1,000 a month. Pellatt then needed to auction off $1.5 million in art and $250,000 in furnishings. He could no longer maintain the house and moved out but wasn't forced to sell until decades later when he needed to sell the house to pay for a few thousand dollars in back taxes or forfeit his knighthood. He then lived the rest of his life living in the home of his former chauffeur. 

In 1937, the Kiwanis Club of Toronto leased the house and opened it as a museum. Other than a brief stint in WWII when the house served to conceal sonar research facilities, it has been open for tours since.

Someone's become old hat at touring historic properties.

Listening to their audio guides

"Mama, rarrrrr."

The view from the tower

We took the 800-foot tunnel from the house to the stables. When we arrived both kids were disappointed. The youngest thought there would be "he-hes," and the oldest thought there would be a restaurant like at the Biltmore Estate.

Will's disappointment didn't last long.

Notice how everyone on the subway is staring at Avonlea Jane. Attempting to entertain everyone on public transportation has become a habit for her.

On our walk home, we stopped by a toy store for the kids to explore for a bit.

Big kid was tired of walking at the end of the day. Luckily for her, we soon went home to make dinner. Afterward, she, Daddy, and Will went back to the playground, while I had evening plans with friends in Toronto.