Fort Calgary — Attraction in Calgary

Fort Calgary: A Venue Steeped in History and Celebration 🏰🎆

Located at the convergence of the Bow and Elbow rivers, Fort Calgary offers an immersive journey into Calgary's rich history. But its appeal stretches beyond its historical significance; it's a place where communities gather to mark festivities, with the 1st of July celebrations being a high point of the annual calendar. However, this year's fireworks spectacle didn't quite ignite the spark one would expect, despite the locale's undeniable charm. Let's delve into the allure and occasional letdowns of Fort Calgary. 🗺️🔍

Historical Resonance of Fort Calgary 📜🔔

Fort Calgary, established in 1875, serves as a beacon of the city's heritage. It was here that the North-West Mounted Police built a fort to bring law and order to the western prairies and lay the groundwork for the vibrant city that Calgary is today. This storied past is meticulously preserved within Fort Calgary, which now operates as an interactive museum, providing visitors a glimpse into the city's origins and evolution. 👮‍♀️🏛️

Strolling around the 40 acres of parkland, you can discover interpretive exhibits, explore the 1888 Barracks, and even view an archaeological dig uncovering the original fort's remnants. It's a captivating encounter with history that also offers a tranquil escape from the city's bustling pace. 🌳🏞️

The 1st of July Fireworks: A Missed Spark 🎆😔

As the venue for the city's Canada Day celebrations, Fort Calgary typically bursts into life on the 1st of July. Traditionally, a spectacular fireworks display caps off the day's festivities, illuminating the sky in a dazzling dance of light and color. However, this year, the fireworks spectacle fell short of the usual brilliance.

The display lacked the grandeur and intricacy that spectators have come to anticipate from such a notable event. While the occasion is primarily about celebrating our nationhood, the fireworks are undeniably a cherished tradition and a beloved climax to the day's celebrations. Therefore, the underwhelming performance was a disappointment. 🎇😞

The Silver Lining: Fort Calgary's Appeal 🌅🦋

Despite the lackluster fireworks display, Fort Calgary remains a prized jewel of the city. Its expansive green spaces, scenic river views, and historic structures create an idyllic setting for family outings, picnics, and cultural exploration.

The Deane House, an original 1906 structure, adds to Fort Calgary's appeal. Now operating as a restaurant, it offers a charming gastronomic experience nestled amidst history. The place, with its beautiful garden and a gourmet menu, is a delight for both history enthusiasts and food lovers. 🏡🍽️

In conclusion, Fort Calgary, despite the unfortunate firework misfire this year, continues to captivate locals and tourists alike with its mix of historical allure, natural beauty, and community spirit. Here's hoping that next year's celebrations will bring back the sparkle that was missed, making Canada Day at Fort Calgary an unforgettable experience once...

Fort Calgary is the birthplace of the modern city of Calgary and a National Historic Site; it is the confluence where our past, present, and future come together.

In the summer of 1874, 150 men of the North West Mounted Police marched west across the prairie from Dufferin, Manitoba to establish a series of forts. Part of the Force established Fort Macleod to the south and spent their first winter in a harsh and unfamiliar environment, aided by the Blackfoot. The following year they built Fort Calgary.

The NWMP, now called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), came as part of a larger national policy to establish Canadian sovereignty and bring Canadian law and order to the west, to stamp out the whiskey trade, and to prepare the way for the treaties that would open the land for settlement.

In 1877, the government signed Treaty 7 with the Blackfoot Nations of the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani, and with the Stoney Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations. This Treaty covers most of southern Alberta and is still in effect today. Between 1875 and 1914, the Fort grew into Calgary Barracks and became the centre of a flourishing community. Fort Calgary was a police administration centre, a community symbol of law, order and prosperity, a hospital, a refuge, a social centre, and a focal point for settlers, ranchers and business.

In 1914, Fort Calgary was sold to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway who later sold the site to the Canadian National Railway. For the next 61 years, Calgary’s origins were hidden under a railway yard and storage area. In 1974, thanks largely to the efforts of Alderman John Ayer, The City of Calgary bought the site and returned the city’s birthplace to the public domain. Over the years, the Fort has regained its position as a centre for Calgarians to think about our past and plan for the future. We are currently working to redevelop our exhibits in dialogue with local Indigenous groups, in order to tell a more complete story of our collective history, in recognition that we are all...

A very interesting and carefully curated collection of historical facts and recollections regarding the development of Calgary. We were there about an hour and could have stayed longer but had to leave so will return on our next visit.

I would have liked to have heard more about the indigenous population at the time and their involvement/lack of/impact on their culture but obviously there were more artefacts relating to the colonisers that made up a large part of the exhibit. There was a wheel of images that was very interesting capturing not just the western people but also some indigenous population which told such a story and was an important part of their collection. Each one was lit up as you moved round the wheel and described the scene. One other exhibit was 20 suggestions to take action to find out more about the indigenous population today, such as learning the indigenous name of Calgary (see photo). I liked that active part of the exhibit.

Definitely worth taking a look and finding out about the development of the city, it is beautiful and feels like a special place, with such natural beauty and a...