Heritage Park is a destination for all seasons, whether you’re walking the streets of history, catching special entertainment, or diving deep into intriguing topics from our past. And from September 16, 2024, to February 28, 2025, there’s something new coming to Heritage Park! Bison, a brand-new immersive exhibit, brings a particular connection to Alberta’s rich heritage and natural environment.

This fall and winter you can step into the world of Bison, an exhibit toured by the Kauffman Museum, on behalf of the National Buffalo Foundation. Discover the importance and cultural significance of this giant animal, and learn about its fascinating history on the plains of Alberta. Through engaging displays, learn about the bison’s vital role in Indigenous cultures, their near-extinction, and current conservation efforts.

Exhibit Highlights

Engage with interactive displays to learn about the bison: their size, diet, and habitat, along with their significance, both cultural and practical, to the Indigenous peoples. They used every part of the animal and it was vital to their welfare.

Follow the historical journey of the bison: how European settlers impacted the bison population and how industrial factors decimated it. By the late 1880s, there were only 300 bison left in North America.

You’ll also learn about conservation efforts and how organizations like the National Buffalo Foundation and Canadian Parks such as Banff National Park, are reintroducing bison to their natural habitats. The International Buffalo Relations Institute has provided additional information about how buffalo are being protected in Southern Alberta.

You may have heard of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site in southern Alberta. Through a partnership with Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Heritage Park has brought in additional artifacts and hands-on experiences. Heritage Park interpreters will offer hands-on learning opportunities.

Entry to Bison is included with your Heritage Park admission, so plan a day to visit these giants of the plains. Remember, the exhibit is only open from September 16, 2024, to February 28, 2025 – don’t miss your chance to check out Heritage Park for Bison – A Travelling Exhibit and experience a captivating story.

Heritage Park  — Bison:

When: September 16, 2024 – February 28, 2025
Time:
September 16 – October 14, 2024, Open daily from 10 am – 5 pm
After October 15, 2024 – February 28, 2025, Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Gasoline Alley Museum
Address: 1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary, AB
Phone: 403-268-8500
Website: www.heritagepark.ca