Winnipeg Exchange District Tour
This article is Winnipeg Exchange District Tour. The article is an overview of my experience touring the historic Exchange District in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Exchange District Tour is part of my Winnipeg Spring Experience.
Background
Winnipeg’s Exchange District is one of the most iconic and vibrant neighborhoods in Winnipeg.
The site is a National Historic location which means that many of the buildings must be preserved in their original exterior style.
The area features a collection of heritage buildings built between 1880 and 1920.
The Exchange District is nicknamed the “Chicago of the North.”
Tourism Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba setup a private tour of the area by a representative from the Exchange District BIZ. The views expressed in this article are my own.
Tour Overview
The Exchange District is a collection of historic buildings around a 30-block area of Winnipeg.
The tour began by walking around and taking in the appearance of the buildings.
Many of the buildings had the original signs outside of the companies that occupied them in the past.
As part of the historical significance the signs were left on the building to add character to the buildings.
Many of the buildings were ornate and decorative, while others were more modern in appearance.
The area was noted to have a mix between Victorian style and more classic style places.
Food Tour Options
During the summer, there are several foodie walking tours that sounded amazing.
The tour guide explained that you could go a gourmet one which offered the finest food tasting in the city.
Another option for a food tour would be comfort food.
Both of the tours sounded amazing.
She said they were offered in July and August and became very popular.
Check out food tours in Winnipeg on TripAdvisor.
Bank Buildings
The Exchange District used to be home to about 20 different banks,
Some of the banks used marble and large columns to set a bold tone, while others focused on more brick-based facades.
The banks have all moved to other parts of the city and many of the banks were converted into restaurants, stores or art galleries.
The charm of the bank including vaults and teller windows were left to add character to the restaurant or store.
Movies
The Exchange District has been used to make various movies over the years.
The area was transformed into New York City, Chicago or even back to the wild west depending on the movie.
The classic style on the buildings were a good backdrop of the movies.
Art Spaces
The Exchange District has many art galleries and performance areas.
Some of the art galleries have painting and drink evenings where you can relax with wine and paint your own artwork.
You can even find a place where you can play board games and have coffee and drinks which is called Across the Board!
Performance Space
The centerpiece of the Exchange District is the performance space and lawn, which is home to many festivals, music and art experiences.
One of the biggest events that take place in the area is the Winnipeg Fringe Festival that takes place in the summer.
The performance space is made with metal wires in a cool looking display that focused on a stage.
Guests can sit on the grass and take in the performance at the unique decorated theater space.
College and Culinary School
A college occupies two of the large buildings within the Exchange District.
One of the buildings used a main street like frontage with storefronts along the street.
The building was modified inside to accommodate the school, but it kept the charm of the historic style with the columns, lighting and more.
In addition, part of the school was in an area that used to be a warehouse with a train that ran through it.
Fire escapes were used inside to further give the room character.
A large common public area with tables and chairs were found in the hall as well where students could take some time out of their day to relax and take in the history of the building.
Along one of the hallways, the room was lined vault doors. In the past, the building would have stored documents and other important items in the vaults. The vaults were decorated with extreme details and the doors remained which added a cool look to the area.
A large culinary school was located a few blocks away.
The culinary school offered a sit-down restaurant called Jane, which gives students a chance to practice their culinary skills and learn about operating and managing a gourmet restaurant.
A performance kitchen was located within the restaurant, so you could watch as the chefs prepare your meals.
The restaurant was located in one of the old bank buildings and it maintained many of the bold features in the seating area including large columns and rich wood tones.
Overall
It was pretty awesome seeing how the Exchange District was restored and maintained throughout the years. Walking through the area gives you a glimpse into the history of the city. It is awesome that the current owners have kept the charm of the past within the city.