Fort Edmonton Park facts for kids
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| Established | 1974 |
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| Location | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Type | Living history |
| Owner | City of Edmonton |
| Public transit access |   [[|ODT]] (to South Campus/Fort Edmonton Park station) |
Fort Edmonton Park is an awesome place to visit in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It's named after the very first European fort built in the area. This park is Canada's biggest living history museum!
It has real and rebuilt buildings that show Edmonton's past. This includes the history of Indigenous Peoples. During summer, people dressed in old-fashioned clothes help you learn about history.
Discovering Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park is huge, covering about 158 acres. It's located along the North Saskatchewan River. The park has five main areas, each showing a different time period.
You can start your visit at the park's entrance. From there, you can ride a cool steam train all the way to the fort. After that, you walk through the different areas. It's like traveling forward in time!
Besides the train, you can also ride horse-drawn carriages and old streetcars. Train and streetcar rides are free with your ticket. Horse-drawn carriage rides cost a small fee.
From the May long weekend until Labour Day, and on Sundays in September, you can meet people dressed in costumes. They act like people from the past. They show you what life was like back then. You can also book tours with guides who aren't in costume.
Indigenous Peoples Experience
This is the newest part of the park, opened in 2021. It was built during a big park update. This area helps you learn about the stories, cultures, and history of local First Nations and Métis communities.
You'll find interactive exhibits, videos, and music. Over 50 local Indigenous historians, elders, and community members shared their stories here. This museum even won an award in 2021! It was created with help from the Confederacy of Treaty 6 Nations and the Métis Nation of Alberta.
1846 Fort – Fur Trade Era
This section is a full-size copy of the original Hudson's Bay Company Fort Edmonton. It shows what life was like during the fur trade. The fort was built using old maps and drawings. Artists like Paul Kane also helped show what it looked like.
Just outside the fort walls, you'll see a Cree camp. This shows the important role First Nations played. They traded furs and food, which was vital for the fort.
Cool Features of the Fort
- York Boat: You can see a copy of a York boat near the river. These boats were used to carry furs and supplies. Sometimes, you can even see one being built inside the fort!
- The Rowand House: This huge house belonged to John Rowand and his family. It was one of the biggest houses in Western Canada back then. It has four levels, from servants' quarters to family rooms.
- The Men's Quarters: These apartments were home to the Hudson's Bay Company workers. Many beds were needed because several men and their families lived in each small apartment. Some rooms were also workshops for skilled workers.
- The Indian House/Trade Store: This was where Indigenous people traded furs for European goods. Workers here counted, stored, and shipped furs to Hudson Bay. From there, they went to England to be sold.
1885 Street – The Settlement Era
After the fort, people started building farms and towns. 1885 Street shows the start of a town. You'll see early newspapers and telegraph offices. It also reminds us of big events like the North-West Rebellion of 1885.
What to See on 1885 Street
- Covered wagon: These wagons carried settlers and their belongings from places like Winnipeg. They were made narrow to fit on small trails.
- Jasper House Hotel: This is a copy of the first brick building in Edmonton. You can even rent it for parties!
- McDougall Methodist Church: This is a real church, built in 1873, that was moved to the park. It was one of the first buildings outside the fort. It shows how important Methodists were in early Edmonton.
- The Ottewell Homestead: This shows how homesteaders lived in the late 1800s. It has a rebuilt house and a real barn from that time. You can even see live animals here!
1905 Street – The Municipal Era
By this time, Edmonton was a city. In 1905, it became the capital of Alberta. This was a time of fast growth for Edmonton. Because so many people moved here, there wasn't enough housing. You can see a "tent city" that shows this. The opening of the University of Alberta in 1908 is also a big part of this era.
Highlights of 1905 Street
- Tent City: When Edmonton grew fast, many new people couldn't find homes. This tent city shows how people lived in temporary shelters.
- Rutherford House: This was the home of Alexander Cameron Rutherford, Alberta's first Premier. It was moved to the park from its original spot.
- Streetcar: You can ride a historic streetcar here! It takes you between 1905 Street and 1920 Street. It's a fun way to get around.
- Masonic Hall: This is a copy of a 1903 building. Upstairs, you can find a museum with old Masonic items. Downstairs, there are food services.
1920 Street – The Metropolitan Era
This street shows Edmonton during and after World War I. Businesses became bigger, and new technology like airplanes appeared.
What to Explore on 1920 Street
- Blatchford Field Air Hangar: This is a copy of Edmonton's first "air harbour." It's also a place you can rent for events. A copy of a biplane, like the one flown by famous pilot Wop May, will be displayed here.
- Hotel Selkirk: This building looks like an old hotel from downtown Edmonton. But it's a real hotel inside the park where visitors can stay overnight!
- Mellon Farm: This is a special building because it's original to the park site! The land Fort Edmonton Park is on used to belong to the Mellon family.
- Al-Rashid Mosque: This is the first mosque built in Canada and the oldest still standing in North America. It was moved here to save it from being torn down. Many Muslim immigrants came to Edmonton because of this mosque.
- 1920 Midway & Exhibition: This area has fun games and rides from the 1920s. You can play skill games and ride a carousel with hand-carved horses. There's also a Ferris wheel!
Affiliations
Fort Edmonton Park works with the CMA, the CHIN, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
Images for kids
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York boat
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The Rowand House dominates the other buildings along Fort Edmonton's courtyard.
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Panorama of a section of 1885 Street
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Streetcar
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The Mellon Farm: distinctive as the only structure original to the park site
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Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific 2-6-2 locomotive No. 107 in the park
