List of historic places in the Calgary Region facts for kids
This article is a list of important historic places in the Calgary Region in Alberta, Canada. These places have been officially recognized and added to the national Register of Historic Places. This list includes buildings and sites owned by the federal, provincial, and city governments. Some of these special spots are even part of Canada's national park system!
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Historic Places in Calgary
Calgary is a big city with a rich past. Many buildings and sites here tell stories of how the city grew and changed over time.
Famous Houses and Buildings
- Lougheed House (Beaulieu National Historic Site)
This grand mansion, located at 707 13th Avenue SW, was built in 1891. It was the home of Senator James Alexander Lougheed and his family. It's a great example of Victorian architecture and shows how wealthy families lived in early Calgary. Today, you can visit it and learn about its history.
- Lougheed Block
Found at 604 - 1 Street SW, this building is another reminder of the Lougheed family's influence. It's a historic commercial building in downtown Calgary.
- Victoria Sandstone School
Located at 411 - 11 Avenue SE, this school is a beautiful example of early Calgary architecture. It was built using local sandstone, which was a popular building material back then. Imagine going to school here over a hundred years ago!
- Hunt House (H.B.C. Log Cabin)
At 806 - 9 Avenue SE, this log cabin is one of the oldest buildings in Calgary. It was built by the Hudson's Bay Company, a very important trading company in Canadian history. It gives us a peek into what early homes in the area looked like.
- Nellie McClung House
This house at 803 - 15 Avenue SW was once home to Nellie McClung, a famous Canadian suffragist and social activist. She fought for women's right to vote and other important social changes. Her home is a tribute to her legacy.
- Calgary City Hall
Located at 700 Macleod Trail SE, this impressive building is where Calgary's city government works. It's a beautiful example of Edwardian architecture and has been a central part of the city for over a century.
- Palace Theatre
Found at 219 - 8 Avenue SW, the Palace Theatre is a historic movie theatre and performance venue. It has seen many shows and events over the years and is a key part of Calgary's entertainment history.
- Heritage Hall of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
This iconic building at 1301 - 16 Avenue NW is the main building of SAIT. It's known for its beautiful architecture and has been a place of learning for many generations of students.
- Calgary Courthouse No. 2
At 530 - 7 Avenue SW, this courthouse has played an important role in Calgary's legal history. Its design reflects the style of public buildings from its time.
- Memorial Park Library
This library at 1221 - 2 Street SW is a beautiful and historic building. It was one of the first public libraries in Calgary and continues to serve the community.
- McDougall School
Located at 412 - 7 Street SW, McDougall School is another example of Calgary's early school buildings. It shows how education developed in the city.
- Calgary Public Building
At 201 - 8 Avenue SE, this building was once a key government office. Its grand design shows its importance in the city's early days.
- Pumphouse Theatre (Bow River Pumphouse No. 2)
This interesting building at 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW was originally a pumphouse for Calgary's water system. Today, it has been transformed into a theatre, showing how old buildings can find new life.
- Mewata Armoury
This large building at 801 11th St. SW is a historic military drill hall. It has been used for training and other military activities for many years.
- Calgary Fire Hall No. 1
Found at 140 - 6 Avenue SE, this old fire hall is a cool example of early city services. It reminds us of the brave firefighters who protected Calgary long ago.
Historic Ranches and Outdoor Sites
- E.P. Ranch
This ranch near High River was once owned by Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII). It's a significant part of Alberta's ranching history.
- Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
Located in the Foothills Municipal District No. 31, the Bar U Ranch is a very important place in Canadian history. It was one of the first and most successful ranches in Western Canada. It shows what ranching life was like in the early days. Many buildings on the ranch are historic, including:
* Hay Shed
* Implement Shed
* Percheron Box Stalls
* Post Office, Building 5
* Privy, Building 28
* Root Cellar, Building 13
* Saddle Horse Barn, Building 16
* Storage Building 10
* Storage Building 8
* Coal Shed
* Dairy Barn
* Feed Mill
* Foreman's House
* Harness Shop
* Blacksmith Shop
* Bunkhouse and Cookhouse
* Storage Building 9
* Stud Horse Barn, Building 1
* Tractor Garage, Building 7
* Work Horse Barn, Building 17
- William Roper Hull Ranche House
Located at 15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE, this ranche house is another important part of Calgary's ranching heritage.
- Battalion Numbers (Battalion Park)
Found at 2972 Signal Hill Dr SW, these large numbers on the hillside were created by soldiers during World War I. They are a unique and touching memorial to Canada's military history.
- Turner Valley Gas Plant National Historic Site
This site in Turner Valley, at Sunset Boulevard SE, is important because it was one of the first natural gas processing plants in Alberta. It shows the beginnings of Alberta's energy industry.
- Stephen Avenue National Historic Site
This historic street, 8th Avenue SW, is a lively area with many old buildings. It's a great place to see what Calgary's downtown looked like in the past.
- Reader Rock Garden National Historic Site
Located at Macleod Trail South and 25 Avenue SE, this beautiful garden was created by William Reader, a former superintendent of Calgary's parks. It's a peaceful historic green space.
- Fort Calgary National Historic Site
At 750 - 9 Ave SE, Fort Calgary is where the city of Calgary officially began. It was a North-West Mounted Police fort established in 1875. You can visit and learn about the early days of law and order in the West.
- Women's Buffalo Jump
This archaeological site northwest of Cayley is a place where Indigenous peoples historically hunted buffalo by driving them over cliffs. It's an important site for understanding the history and culture of the First Nations in the area.
- Wood's Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary
Located in Calgary at 51.0942, -114.225, this sanctuary protects a special group of Douglas Fir trees. It's a natural historic site that shows the original landscape of the area.
Other Notable Historic Places
- Museum of the Highwood
This museum at 401 - 1 Street West in High River tells the story of the High River area. It's housed in a historic building itself!
- Centre Street Bridge
This famous bridge connects different parts of Calgary across the Bow River. It's known for its unique design and has been a landmark for over a century.
- Inglewood Telephone Building
At 1311 - 9 Avenue SE, this building was once a telephone exchange. It shows how communication technology developed in Calgary.
Images for kids
See also
- List of historic places in Alberta
- List of historic places in the Edmonton Capital Region
- National Historic Sites in Alberta