Alberta Legislature Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alberta Legislature Building |
|
|---|---|
The Alberta Legislature Building at night
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Address | 10800 97 Avenue NW |
| Town or city | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 53°32′1.3″N 113°30′23.8″W / 53.533694°N 113.506611°W |
| Construction started | 1907 |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Cost | CA$2 million |
| Client | Government of Alberta |
| Owner | Government of Alberta |
| Height | 57 m (187.0 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Allan Merrick Jeffers and Richard Blakey |
The Alberta Legislature Building is a very important place in Edmonton, Alberta. It is where the Legislative Assembly (like a provincial parliament) and the Executive Council (the government's main decision-makers) meet. People sometimes call it "the Ledge" for short.
You can find the building at 10801 97 Avenue NW. You can even take free tours to explore it! The building is also connected to the Grandin LRT Station and the Government Centre Transit Centre by an underground walkway. This makes it easy to visit.
Contents
Where is the Building?
The Legislature Building sits on a hill overlooking the beautiful North Saskatchewan River valley. This spot is special because it's near where Fort Edmonton used to be. Fort Edmonton was an old trading post where people traded furs a long time ago. It was a very important place for business and government in the western Prairies.
The building is also close to Rossdale Flats. This area has old things found from a long-standing First Nations campsite. It was also the site of an even older Fort Edmonton.
The location for the Legislature was chosen in 1906. This was shortly after Edmonton became the capital city of Alberta. The building was built along 97 Avenue. In the 1970s, this road was moved into a tunnel. This created a large open area, or plaza, that connects the building to a green space to the north.
To the west, the grounds are next to 109 Street and some old railway tracks. These tracks are now used by the High Level Bridge Streetcar. There's also a walking path nearby. This path leads to Victoria Park and Golf Course and the Grandin neighbourhood.
North of the building is the "Government Centre" area in downtown Edmonton. This area has several government office buildings, like the Federal Building. A short street called "Capital Boulevard" connects the Legislature to MacEwan University's City Centre Campus.
Close by to the northeast, you'll find the Legislature Annex Building and the Government Centre transit centre. The Rossdale neighbourhood and the Edmonton Ballpark are also nearby. The Alberta Sheriffs Branch is in charge of keeping the Legislature building and its grounds safe.
Statues and Memorials
There are many special statues and memorials around the Legislature Building and its grounds.
- A fountain inside the building was added in 1959. It celebrates the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the building.
- For Alberta's 100th birthday, the Queen also showed off new stained glass windows. These windows show the history of the royal family's role in Alberta over the last century. The main window at the front entrance shows Queen Elizabeth II's special symbol. Other windows remember past kings like George VI, Edward VIII, George V, and Edward VII. They also show Alberta's symbols, like the coat of arms and the wild rose flower.
- Other important things on the grounds include the Lois Hole Memorial Garden. This garden remembers Lois Hole, a former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
- You can also see a statue of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.
- There is a memorial to Chief Crowfoot, a famous Blackfoot leader.
History of the Building
The Alberta Legislature Building was built between 1907 and 1913. It was designed in a grand style called Beaux-Arts. This style was popular for important public buildings. Architects Allan Merrick Jeffers and Richard Blakey designed it. Percy Nobbs, another architect, helped with the final plans. Allan Merrick Jeffers was the main architect for Alberta from 1907 to 1910.
Building work started in August 1907. A special stone, called the cornerstone, was laid by the Governor General of Canada, Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey, on October 1, 1909. The first meeting was held in the building on November 30, 1911. The building was officially opened by another important person, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, on September 3, 1912.
The Beaux-Arts style came from a famous art school in Paris, France. It was popular in North America from about 1895 to 1920. Buildings in this style often look like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. They often have a large dome in the middle and big columns. This style was chosen to show power, strength, and tradition.
The dome of the building is made of terracotta from England. The building stands on strong concrete supports. It has a steel frame inside. The first floor is covered with granite from Vancouver Island. The upper floors use sandstone from a quarry near Calgary. Inside, you can see beautiful materials like marble, mahogany wood, oak wood, and brass.
The building is about 57 meters (187 feet) tall. It cost over $2 million to build at that time, which was a lot of money!
For Alberta's 100th birthday, new stained glass windows were put in above the main entrance. These windows show royal symbols and Alberta's emblems. Queen Elizabeth II showed these windows to the public on May 24, 2005.
Images for kids
-
The Alberta Legislature Building at night.
See also
In Spanish: Edificio de la Legislatura de Alberta para niños
