Victoria’s Mansion was a mansion that my husband actually found out about and planned for. He went online, told me some information about what it entailed, and told me that it was something he thought we’d both like since we enjoy touring mansions. So after booking the tickets and getting our fill of coffee that morning, we walked from Commercial Street to the mansion which was about a 10-minute walk from where we parked that morning.
From the outside one might assume that the mansion wouldn’t be that beautiful on the inside. They might think it’ll be full of dated furniture because of the time period in which this mansion was built and occupied. However, as soon as you walk inside you quickly understand why it’s such a popular spot for visitors.
While I could go on about how stunning the home was, we thought it would be more helpful to share some of the things to keep in mind before you go.
YOU MAY HAVE TO WEAR A MASK:
At the time of our visit, masks were mandated for ALL guests within the house – vaccinated or not. Personally, we had no issue with it and it seemed that when we visited all of the guests respected it, which was nice. So make sure you pack a mask and have it properly fitting because they will ask that of you during your visit if you don’t.
This may have changed at the time that this article is being posted, however, so be sure to check the site to be sure. I’d say that it definitely doesn’t hurt to bring one, though just in case.
RESERVE AHEAD OF TIME:
While some places have dropped timed entry, this mansion has not done so to ensure the safety of all guests. Pandemic aside, the house is large, but can only safely and comfortably fit a certain capacity of people. This is not a museum where you could just walk up and expect to immediately be able to purchase tickets since it’s possible that they would’ve sold out by the time you arrive. Purchase them online ahead of time to secure your spot.
THERE IS NO PARKING ON SITE:
I could be wrong, but there did not seem to be parking on site. There are parking spots nearby and when we went there was a surprising amount of ample street parking, but we didn’t know that before going so we parked in a lot on Commercial Street.
THERE ARE NO RAMPS:
If you or a loved one are in a wheelchair and planning to attend, while touring the museum it appears that there are no elevators and no accessible ramps inside, unfortunately. This is probably because the building is older and is kept in pretty much the exact condition it was in when it was originally built, so there isn’t really anywhere they would put them without messing with the integrity of the building.
NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY:
I’m sure this goes without saying for most museums that were once mansions, but flash photography degrades the quality of the items over time – or at least that’s what we’ve been told. This home is quite old and the last thing you’d want to do is for the flash-photograph that you took because it’s a little dim in some rooms, to be the reason why some historical artifact that was original to the home is no longer in there. You’re welcome to take photographs, but just make sure the flash stays off.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND IT?
We both found our visit to the mansion to be pretty interesting. Our tour guide was very thorough and answered any random questions that we had about the home and the family who once owned it. We learned about the last remaining family member who stayed here as well as some more information about the neighborhood that the home resides in. It was very interesting and for that reason, we’d say it’s worth visiting when you’re in Portland.
