Discovering Canmore Museums

The Canadian flag flies high in Canmore.

Canmore Museums and Historic Sites

By Michele Kadison
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

CANMORE, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Canmore is more than just a vacation destination; it’s a town with a rich history.

The Canadian flag flies high in Canmore.

The Canmore Centennial Museum is a great place to start exploring this history. The museum’s exhibits date back to the town’s founding, in 1884. Documents, photographs and artifacts illustrate the town’s development. Located on 7th Avenue, north of Main Street (8th Street), the museum is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in the past.

But your tour into history has only just begun. There are more than 40 buildings designated as historically significant in town. The Canmore Hotel on Main Street, built in 1890, is still in use today.

Two blocks north of the hotel, along the banks of Policeman’s Creek, you’ll find the North West Mounted Police Barracks. The barracks were built in 1893 as Canmore’s first police station; much care and attention has been given to the site in recent years for restoration.

Almost right next door is the Ralph Connor Memorial United Church, named for the man who directed its construction in 1891 – though he did so under the name of the Rev. Charles Gordon. He would become well-known later in his life using the other name as a writer .

There’s a lot more to be learned in the Canmore Public Library, half a block north of Main Street on 8th Avenue. Local artists are featured regularly in the Canmore Artists and Artisans’ Gallery, which is inside the library building.

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