CHRISTIEN HOUSE
Why This Stop Matters
The story of Father Pandosy Mission did not end with the first missionaries.
The Christien House is one of the early pioneer homes in the Okanagan and helps tell the story of how this area grew from a small settlement into a community.
It brings together family life, early education, and everyday work in one place.
The Story
The mission was never only about buildings. It was about people. Families, workers, farmers, and settlers all contributed to the growth of the area.
Joseph Christien was one of the early settlers in the Okanagan Mission area, arriving in 1861, just after Father Pandosy and the first mission was established. He later helped develop land in the Benvoulin area and became part of the early growth of the valley.
This house is linked to his story and the broader story of pioneer families building homes and communities in a new and changing landscape.
Over time, the Okanagan changed from a small settlement into a growing region. Homes like this help us understand the everyday lives of the people who followed the first missionaries and helped shape the valley.
This house tells the story of ordinary moments: preparing meals, working, sewing, writing, and spending time together.
The Building
This house was built around 1890 and is a 1.5-storey squared-log home. It is a good example of how early settlers built using local materials and simple, strong construction methods. Over time, the house was changed and added to as families grew and needs changed.
It was moved to the Father Pandosy Mission site in 1970 and is now part of the historic collection here.
The Christien House gives visitors a chance to step into the daily life of an early Okanagan home. Unlike the shared spaces of the mission buildings, this was a family home — a place where people created routines, traditions, and memories. The rooms are furnished to help visitors imagine how families lived before modern conveniences.
Inside the House
The displays throughout the house show the many tasks that happened at home.
Downstairs, the kitchen and living room areas include objects connected to daily life, including:
- A wood stove for heating and cooking.
- A writing desk.
- An organ.
- A sewing machine.
- A spinning wheel.
Each object represents a skill or activity that was once part of everyday life.
Look Around
As you explore the Christien House, notice:
- The difference between a family home and the mission residences.
- The everyday objects that made life possible.
- The tools used for cooking, sewing, writing, and creating.
Imagine the sounds of a home filled with people.
Did You Know?
Joseph Christien ordered a church bell from France and named it Mary Ann in honour of his wife. When Rosa Casorso and her children arrived in San Francisco from Italy, Rosa spoke no English and carried only a note reading “Father Pandosy, Okanagan Mission.” She found the bell waiting to travel to the same destination and followed it throughout the long journey to the Okanagan. Both the bell and the Casorso family eventually arrived safely at the Mission.
Today, the bell still rings from the tower of Immaculate Conception Church in Kelowna.
Before You Go...
Take one more look around the Christien House.
The mission began as a place of faith and survival, but it became something larger — a community made up of many people, each with their own story.