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| Fort Calgary |
Fort Calgary is a historical site in Calgary, having been constructed in 1875 to discourage whiskey merchants from doing their trade in the area. The construction of the Fort was headed by Ephram A. Brisbois. It was originally called The Elbow or Bow Fort because of its location. Brisbois named the Fort Fort Brisebois after himself but his unpopularity led to the renaming of the facility to Fort Calgary. .
The Fort was made of pine and logs which were sourced and chopped upstream but was later on floated to the construction site. The original Fort had stables and facilities for storage as well as quarters for the men guarding the Fort. Its completion led to the establishment of two businesses namely Hudson’s Bay and I.G. Baker Company
The post was originally called "The Elbow" or "Bow Fort". Captain Brisbois attempted to rename the fort after himself, but due to his unpopularity, it was renamed Fort Calgary in 1876 by James MacLeod, after Calgary House, a castle at Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.
Visitors to the Fort can still see the Deane House which was originally built in 1906 to accommodate Captain Richard Deane who was then Fort Calgary Superintendent.
All the buildings in the Fort except the Deane House were demolished when the Grand Trunk pacific Railway bought the facility and converted it as a rail terminal. However the Deane House was transferred across the Elbow River after it was purchased by C.L. Jacques in 1929.
Majority of the artifacts that can be found at Fort Calgary now is a product of an archaeological project which was conducted from 1969 to 1970. The site was reclaimed by the city of Calgary in 1974 and was designated not only a Provincial but also a National Historic Site that is now being managed by the Fort Calgary Preservation Society.
The present 40-hectare site of Fort Calgary is actually a living museum that features an exact reproduction of the 1888 two-storey Barracks as well as the other facilities that used to cater to the needs of the soldiers who manned the Fort.
Visitors can get to the Calgary Fort by car or through the Calgary Bus Transit. There are designated parking areas in the Fort including parking facilities for differently-able persons. If you are taking the bus then no need to worry about walking from the bus to the entrance because there is a bus stop right in front of the Fort.
You can’t miss the Barracks because it has a very imposing façade and has been painted in eye catching red and white. The Barracks is near the parking lot and you need to pay a $10.50 admission fee. Discounts are offered for senior citizens, students and other groups while there is not admission fee for children below six years old.
Just adjacent to the Barracks is a museum that contains information on the history of Calgary. Visitors can touch the archaeology wall. If you want to touch a particular item then just ask permission from the information desk so you will be guided. You will also have a grand time listening to an audio recording about the history of Calgary.
Food is available for sale at the Visitor Center and at a restaurant near the Deane House. The restaurant, which serves lunch and diner, is partly reachable by those using a wheelchair. Washrooms and the other space in the museum are also accessible by wheelchair.
If you visit the Fort during summer then you may have to contend with lots of visitor traffic. The Fort is generally busy during July and August so it would be a good idea to call ahead.
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