Fort Edmonton Park

Corner of Fox Drive and Whitemud Drive, Edmonton T6H 4J1

Fort Edmonton Park is a place where time has stopped and is waiting for you to experience life as it was through four historical periods between 1846 and 1929. Go back in time more than 150 years and walk through the days of the fur trade, and the pioneer years of 1885, 1905 and 1920. Costumed interpreters bring the past to life, answer your questions and invite you to experience the best of the period. Take a ride on a steam train, play pioneer games, bake bread the old-fashioned way, shop 'til you drop, or hit the midway for rides games and more fun - it's all right here waiting for you.

Providing the best in living history, Fort Edmonton Park is nestled on 64 hectares (158 acres) of woodedparkland along Edmonton's river valley. What began as a Canada Centennial project in 1967 to reconstruct the old Fort Edmonton, quickly grew to encompass much more. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Rotary Club of Edmonton and the Fort Edmonton Foundation, the Park now includes the 1846 Hudson's Bay Fort as well as the Streets of 1885, 1905, and 1920, depicting the evolution of Edmonton's early history. Fort Edmonton Park is owned by the City ofEdmonton and operated by the Fort Edmonton Management Company.

Attraction Details

1846 Fort - A Fort Built on Fashion

Fort Edmonton was the most important Hudson's Bay Company post west of the Red River Settlement at Fort Garry (near modern Winnipeg). The Fort not only traded furs, but produced goods and supplied other smaller posts.

Explore the Fort.
See the giant York boats and find out how they were made.
Watch a demonstration of the fur press.
Play traditional Aboriginal games.

1885 Street - A Place of Faith in the Future

In 1885, Edmonton was a hardscrabble place, dusty or muddy depending on the season, and, in economic and social terms, quiet as the grave. And yet, there were signs that this wasn't just any small town.

Stop in at Lauder's Bakery for a snack of something freshly baked.
Visit the blacksmith and wheelwright.
Tour Kenneth McDonald house and pump some water for tea.
Check out the livery stables and hitch a ride to another period in time.

1905 Street - Thrilling Times

From 1891 to 1914, Edmonton grew from an isolated hamlet of a few hundred to a modern city of more than 72,000.

Visit the Henderson Farm and the famous round barn.
Explore the Masonic Hall and museum.
Play around at the Penny Arcade.
Do some shopping at Reed's Bazaar.

1920 Street - Tough Times, Modern Times

By 1920, modern times had indeed arrived in Edmonton with electrifying changes. Women officially became persons under Canadian law and became active setting new precedents in sports, the workplace and the voter's booth.

Visit the Ukrainian Bookstore.
Stop for tea at the Hotel Selkirk.
Play a round of golf at the Tom Thumb Miniature Golf Course.
Get your wings at Blatchford Hangar.

Amusements & Park Transportation

Test your shooting skills in the Shooting Gallery, play a game of Tom Thumb Miniature Golf or experience the excitement or a real 1920's-style midway.

Take a ride into the past on the Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway, Original Streetcars, Buggy Rides, Wagon Rides, Stagecoach or Pony Rides.

More about amusements and transportation...

A volunteer-driven organization from its inception, the Fort Edmonton Foundation was founded in 1969 by a group of community leaders, several of them Rotarians, who were interested in establishing a visible memorial to the origins of the City of Edmonton. The objectives of the group, as set forth in the Memorandum of Association, were simple and straightforward:

Each year at the Fort Edmonton Foundation Annual General Meeting, a long-time donor is recognized with the Samuel A. Dickson Award, in honour of the late Mr. Dickson's role in the development of Fort Edmonton Park

The seven founding members of the Foundation were John A. Beckingham, Raymond Ludford, James G. MacGregor, H. Stan Ragan, J. Newton Shortliffe, Henry G. Ward and Merrill E. Wolfe.

Four decades later, the role of the Foundation has remained true to the vision of the Park's founders. An independent charitable organization, the Foundation has raised over $22 million for the development of capital projects in Fort Edmonton Park.

The Foundation continues to be run by a dedicated volunteer board of directors. It works closely with the Fort Edmonton Management Company and the City of Edmonton.

Vision:

To create and promote an internationally acclaimed living history experience.

Mission:

Building, promoting and fund-raising to celebrate Edmonton's pioneer spirit.

The Fort Edmonton Steam Railway

The Fort Edmonton Foundation owns and operates a steam railway in Fort Edmonton Park called the Edmonton, Yukon & Pacific, after the first railway built in Edmonton. The ride is 2 ½ miles (20 minutes) through the Park on a loose figure eight configuration. At present, there are two main stops: at the Train Station at the entrance to the Park; and at a covered platform to the South of the Fort Complex (1846).