Canada 2010: Fort Calgary

After the chuck wagon races, we decided on a bit more of a sedate activity. So, we went to a historical museum. We went to see the Fort Calgary museum.

Fort Calgary was established by the Royal Mounted Canadian Police (RMCP) to control (among other things) the unscrupulous whiskey traders who were exploiting the Indians in the early 1870’s. The current museum was established in the 90’s: As is often the case, the Fort site seemed doomed to be redeveloped. Spearheaded by the efforts of an activist Councilman, John Ayer, the site was preserved for use as a museum for the life and times of early Calgary.

Because of him and like minded councilmen, the site was saved; and the site was preserved for the Ft. Calgary museum. (The redevelopment motion failed by one vote.) So, the museum HQ was built:

Very fortunately for us, it was Parks’s Day at all of Canada’s National Parks.

There was a neat Bison exhibit just inside the door:

This exhibit outlined the basic state of relations between the aboriginal Indians (mostly Cree and Blackfoot) and the government.

James MacLeod, who aside providing a name for the thoroughfare by which we commuted to town, was the first commandant of the initial contingent of Northwest Mounted Police (later called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) He was, apparently, a man of integrity that the Indians completely trusted as they had never known him to break his word. In fact, he was instrumental in getting the Indians to sign treaties with the Canadian government.

The original fort burned down. The flagpole and some stables were left:

Some American businessmen built a railroad from Northern Ontario to Calgary. Eventually, the railroad failed and was taken over by the CNR (Canadian National Railway). The train originally ran quite close to the fort, but was eventually moved. Here is the old rail bed:

The Mounties raised as many vegetables as possible. Currently, this garden is cared for by volunteers in he same style, and the produce is contributed to charity.

Our guide on the surrounds of the museum took us across Elbow River to Deane House. Deane was a commandant of the fort who had brought his family. Since he didn’t want them living in the barracks, he had this house built. Deane House was one of the largest houses in Western Canada at the time it was built.

We ate at a lunch at “brunch” at the excellent restaurant after we had gone through the inside of the museum, but first we had a stroll through the English style garden:

At the rear of the property was Hunt House. This house will be eventually restored when money is available. It was the more typical dwelling of the time.

What we have here are a number of wannabe Mounties:

You might also be interested in the video clip made by Ray and Barb.

The museum had a replica of a barracks common room.

And a guide to the amenities:

Here is the overall look down the common room:

Mountie Saddle:

Old checker set:

Some pleasant pastimes:

Here is an artist’s depiction of the early Fort Calgary:

These are some of the types of tools used to build the fort.

The railroad coming to Calgary changed everything. Materials to build, and settlers to populate the place changed the Fort and its mission.

There was, of course, a guard room and lockup.

Chuck wagons weren’t just used for cattle drives. They were good for support for a troop of men.

One of the Mounties’ main missions was to keep whiskey under control. In particular: to regulate its access to the native population.

Here is how things were in the infirmary:

Once a local police started up in Calgary, there was more than a little conflict between them and the NWMP. Here is an example of the local police’s fairly severe penalties for loitering.

The McWilliam boarding house actually evolved into a home for wayward women and/or their children. Here is an example of some of the times representative of the times.