Dickinson House, built in 1863, was the first major building in Manotick. It served as a general store, bank, post office, and telegraph office. The Dickinson, Spratt, and Watson families, which owned and operated Watson’s Mill, used the house as their residence from 1870 to 1972. It is currently furnished to give visitors an interpretation of what the space was like when the Dickinson family was in residence. It is included amongst other architecturally-interesting and historically-significant buildings in Doors Open Ottawa, alongside Watson's Mill. Open Doors Ottawa sometimes coincides with Dickinson Days, which is Manotick’s annual festival celebrating the Founder of the village.