Cumberland House Provincial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cumberland House Provincial Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Nearest city | Moosomin Whitewood Moose Mountain Provincial Park |
| Established | 1986 (park) |
| Governing body | Saskatchewan Provincial Parks Provincial Historic Site |
| Official name: Cumberland House National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1924 |
Cumberland House Provincial Park is a special place in Saskatchewan, Canada. It's located in a village called Cumberland House. This park is super important because it's where the Hudson's Bay Company built its very first trading post far away from the coast. It's also the oldest village in Saskatchewan!
Today, you can still see some cool historic items at the park. There's an old powder magazine shed from 1886. This shed was used to store explosives safely. You can also find artifacts from the Northcote steamship, which was once a busy boat on the river.
Because of its rich history, this site was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1924. Later, in 1986, the government of Saskatchewan made it a protected historic park.
Contents
History of Cumberland House Park
When Was Cumberland House Established?
Cumberland House was first set up in 1774. This made it a very important spot for the Hudson's Bay Company. It was their first trading post built far from the coast, deep inside what is now Saskatchewan.
Why Was Cumberland House Important?
Cumberland House became a key stop for boats and people traveling along the Saskatchewan River. Large steamships carried goods and passengers between Grand Rapids, Manitoba (on Lake Winnipeg) and places like Edmonton and Medicine Hat to the west. Smaller steamships also used it as a stop between The Pas and Prince Albert.
The site was also a major hub for the Hudson's Bay Company. It served as a center for managing their business and distributing goods. This continued until 1821. That year, the Hudson's Bay Company joined with another big fur trading company, the North West Company. After the merger, Norway House became the new main inland headquarters.
How Did Travel Change at Cumberland House?
For a long time, steamships were the main way to travel and move goods. But then, railways started to be built across the country. The arrival of trains changed everything. Steamship travel slowly came to an end. The famous Northcote steamship, for example, was finally left at Cumberland House in 1886.
Cumberland House also played a role in transporting copper ore from Flin Flon. This continued until 1925, when the railway finally reached Flin Flon itself. This meant the ore could be shipped directly by train, making Cumberland House less crucial for that purpose.
