Fort Edmonton
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Fort Edmonton (originally named Edmonton House) was established in 1795 as a trading post on the North Saskatchewan River for the Hudson's Bay Company. It was located near Fort Augustus, a post of the rival North West Company, on the north side of the river from present-day Fort Saskatchewan. This was the first of five different sites, the final one being on the grounds of what became the Provincial Legislature in the centre of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In 1915, the fort was dismantled.
In 1821, after the amalgamation of the Northwest and Hudson's Bay Companies (under the HBC flag), Edmonton became the headquarters for the Saskatchewan district, which stretched from the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the west to Fort Carlton in the east; from the 49th parallel in the south to Lesser Slave Lake in the north. As the central fur trading hub in the district, Edmonton was the point from which trade goods were distributed to approximately eight other posts, and where fur returns were consolidated before being shipped by York boat to Hudson's Bay. At the peak of the HBC's monopoly on the fur trade, eight to ten York boats were constructed each year at Edmonton, in order to keep up with the attrition encountered on the arduous journeys to and from the Bay. It was also the end point of the Carlton Trail the main overland route for Metis freighters from Red River, Manitoba to the west.
In 1969, reconstruction of the fort began five kilometres upstream from its final site, representing it as it stood in 1846, but this time on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River instead of the real site near the present day Alberta Legislature Grounds. This marked the beginning of Fort Edmonton Park, which has become one of the city's premier tourist attractions. The Park represents four distinct time periods, exploring Edmonton's development from a fur trade post in the vast Northwest, to a booming metropolitan centre after the First World War.
1885 Street represents the settlement era from 1871 to 1891, with historic buildings and reconstructions of that period. These buildings are from around the greater Edmonton area. The North West Mounted Police outpost building is just that, an outpost, for the main post at that time was downstream at Fort Saskatchewan. A gun shed and jail have also been reconstructed.
1905 Street receives its name from the year that Alberta became a province of the Dominion of Canada. Edmonton itself had became a city the year prior. The buildings are from that period, and include the reconstruction of the Masonic Hall, with the open museum on the second floor. The Edmonton Radial Railway Society operates a streetcar with service to both 1905 and 1920 streets. The first Premier of Alberta, Alexander Cameron Rutherford's original Alberta home also stands on 1905 street. Another building of note is the rare round barn at the Henderson Homestead.
The newest area, both in construction and time period, the 1920 Street includes the Hotel Selkirk, Blatchford Field Air Hangar, and the 1920s Midway. The 1920s Midway features carousel horses carved and painted by locals, all bearing a different name.
The park features over 75 structures, many of which are the originals. Costumed interpreters operate the site and live the way of the past. Visitors enjoy exploring each building and each room, and talking to the role-playing interpreters.
The price of admission includes free steam engine train and streetcar rides, and period rides such as wagon, stagecoach, pony and buggy are also available with a small charge.
[edit] Accessibility
- Location: south bank of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton.
- Open: Daily from the May long week-end to Labour Day.
