Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

From its commanding location high above the confluence of the Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers in Ottawa, Ontario, the Residence of the United States Ambassador to Canada enjoys a breathtaking view of the distant Gatineau Hills in Québec and one of the choicest residential settings in Canada's capital city. The 32-room, limestone manor was built in 1908 by Warren Y. Soper, founder of the Ottawa Electric Railway Company, and was purchased by the United States Government in 1935.

The Ambassador's Residence is located in Rockliffe Park, an historic residential neighborhood within walking distance of Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General. The U.S. Ambassador's property encompasses eleven acres of manicured lawns and landscaped gardens, a greenhouse, maintenance buildings, and a gatehouse.

Despite modernization and refurbishing projects over the years, the interior of the Residence has retained its architectural integrity and much of its original decor. Reproductions of a Queen Anne console table and George II dining room chairs and two living room tables made by Boston's renowned Voss and Company in the early nineteenth century are among the many heirloom furnishings still in use. The silver displayed in the State Dining Room and used at official functions has been part of the Residence inventory since 1936. The majority of the artwork on display in the Residence is on loan from contemporary American artists.

Over the years, many distinguished Americans and Canadians have been guests at the Residence. The list includes many U.S. Presidents and all Canadian Prime Ministers since 1935. American and Canadian visitors have included students, trade delegations, military officers, state governors, congressmen, diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, bankers, artists, industrialists, educators, and U.S. and Canadian government officials.

The Residence is the venue for the Ambassador's annual Independence Day celebration, each July 4th, when guests enjoy the spectacular grounds and sophisticated cuisine, mark the anniversary of 1776, hear the anthems of both countries, and witness the U.S. Marine Guards perform their flag drill, the Presentation of the Colors.

Ambassadors' families consider it a privilege and an honor to act as responsible temporary custodians of this remarkable home and property.