Craigdarroch Castle — the ghostly matriarch of Victoria, British Columbia

Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia, is a lavish Victorian-era mansion built between 1887 and 1890 by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir for his wife Joan. Dunsmuir died before the castle was completed, and Joan lived there until her own death in 1908. The castle, now a museum, has been the subject of ghost stories since the Dunsmuir family's departure. The most frequently reported apparition is that of Joan Dunsmuir herself, who has been seen on the grand staircase and in the upper-floor rooms, dressed in period mourning attire. Visitors have described hearing the rustle of a silk dress, smelling lavender perfume, and feeling a strong, commanding presence — fitting for a woman who was the matriarch of one of British Columbia's wealthiest families. Other reported phenomena include piano music emanating from the music room, footsteps on the tower stairs, and cold spots in the drawing room. The castle's ornate interior — featuring stained glass windows, intricate woodwork, and period furnishings — remains remarkably intact, creating an environment where the Victorian era feels immediately present. The tower room, with its panoramic views of Victoria, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains, is considered one of the most atmospherically charged spaces in the building.