Today our tour guides Harry & Pat took us to the Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary, that opened on July 1, 1964. The Park is located on 127 acres of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir, and is Canada’s largest living history museum. Exhibits span Western Canadian history from the 1860s to the 1950s, and many of the buildings are historical and were transported to the park for display. The people dress in historic costumes, and antique and horse-drawn vehicles service the site. We rode the steam locomotive train on a small railway that goes around the circumference of the park which has original 1900s stations. We also visited the roundhouse that houses various railway equipment, an operational turntable, and a car shop with very rare and unique passenger cars. We saw the working smithy and an aboriginal encampment the representing the Blackfeet where the women were braiding sweet grass. We ate lunch in the historical Wainwright Hotel where Pat used to visit when she was a child. As we walked around the Park we followed a moving play showing how the RCMP “always get their man”. It was such a great day enjoying the past and finished it off with a tasty beer at the Big Rock Brewery. This place is a must see when you are in Calgary. Click on thumbnail to view images
