Tucked into a corner of Heritage Park, away from the bustle of the midway and the busy shops, you’ll find the Settlement. Long before the settlers came west, the First Nations people lived on the plains. Then came the voyageurs and the fur traders, and before long, the pioneers came and the train stretched across the grasslands. The Settlement at Heritage Park is a window to the past, offering families a chance to see, hear, and experience a taste of history.
On your next visit to Heritage Park, be sure to stop by the Settlement. Take the train to Laggan Station and then step back in time to the First Nations Tipi Village, where you can imagine life hundreds of years ago and speak to a First Nations interpreter to get a fuller picture.
Next door is a replica of the Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading fort that was built in Rocky Mountain House in 1835. There you’ll learn how the fur trade was part of the economic development of Canada in the 1860s.
Throwback to a voyageur interpreter in 2019
Go a little further and you’ll stumble across the 1880s Pre-Railway Settlement. Here you’ll discover the core of an early prairie town, with the Bachelor’s Tent Cabin, the Gleichen School, and the Berry Creek North West Mounted Police Barracks.
Bachelor’s Tent Cabin
Check out where a Dominion Land Surveyor lived at the Wolffe & McVittie Cabin or head to the Livingston House, built in 1883, to see how the settlers lived. Sam Livingston was one of Calgary’s earliest settlers and the Heritage Park Historical Village now occupies part of the former Livingston farm. Before you go, grab a drink at Drew’s Saloon or buy a souvenir at the I.G. Baker & Co. Store.
Buy a unique souvenir at I.G. Baker & Co. Store
A trip to the Settlement will give you a picture of how Calgary developed, and no matter when you visit Heritage Park, you can reach across time and culture and find something fascinating. From early life on the Settlement to a growing city on the prairies, see firsthand how life in the west developed. Special activities throughout the park, such as street theatre, ice-cream making, and games add depth and interest to your day. Heritage Park is our window to the past . . . and our enjoyment and pleasure in the present!
Another throwback to life in a developing town!
Heritage Park:
Address: 1900 Heritage Dr. SW, Calgary AB
Telephone: 403-268-8500
Website: www.heritagepark.ca
The author would like to thank Heritage Park for the visit, but all opinions are her own. CQ
Photos by Charity Quick
