Immerse Yourself in Calgary's Authentic Western Heritage

When it comes to a genuine western experience, Calgary is the ideal destination. Don’t just dip your toes into a travelogue, make plans, dive in and get ready for a warm western welcome. Begin with a visit to some of downtown Calgary’s unique attractions.

Start at the top

Get oriented with a bird’s eye view of the city at the Calgary Tower on 9th Avenue. Pick up interpretive headphones on the ground floor, then zip to the top in a super-speedy elevator and enter the enclosed observation deck, which wraps around for 360° views of the city. If you’re feeling brave, step out onto the plexiglass extension and gaze down between your feet 190 m (600 ft) to the street below. Follow the prompts from your headphones to identify landmarks and learn about the history of this place. Make note of the areas you want to explore. 

Pro tip: Discover the  best places to take photos in Calgary.

Living history

Calgary has preserved many of its early era heritage buildings and sites, from The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland to Historic Inglewood, to the buildings along Stephen Avenue National Historic Site, all within walking distance of the Calgary Tower.

Here are some additional standouts that embody the city’s western roots and values.

The Fairmont Palliser Hotel

Since you’re in the neighbourhood, hang a left at the base of the Calgary Tower and walk less than a block to see the famed Fairmont Palliser Hotel, one of the city’s oldest and most luxurious hotels. Built in 1914, it was the tallest building in Calgary until 1958. After Prohibition ended in 1924, its tavern boasted the last men-only barroom in the city, and that didn’t change until women were finally allowed – in 1970! Step inside and feel transported back in time. Stay for a traditional British high tea, complete with dainty finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones and pastries, and 35 loose leaf teas to choose from.

Pro tip: Be sure to make a reservation – this is popular experience!

The Lougheed House

Lougheed House National & Provincial Historic Site is a grand sandstone mansion that stands as testament to the city's early prosperity. Built in the late 1800s, it was home to Senator James Lougheed and his family. Designed in the Victorian style, the building reflects the wealth and social status of the Lougheed family, prominent in Calgary's political and business circles. If there was such a thing as Calgary royalty, the Lougheeds would fit the bill. There’s even a provincial park named after one of them.

One hundred years later, an effort to preserve and restore the house got underway and in 2000, it reopened as a museum and cultural site. Period furnishings and historical exhibits provide a lens into Calgary’s past. Lougheed House continues to play a prominent role, hosting events throughout the year that celebrate the city’s heritage and community spirit.

Pro tip: If you’re visiting in summer, be sure to take time to stroll the superbly restored gardens.

Heritage Park

A short drive from downtown, next to the Glenmore Reservoir, is the largest living history museum in Canada. Heritage Park spans 127 acres and features over 180 exhibits, ranging from an 1860s pre-railway settlement to a bustling 1910 prairie town and a 1930s village. Stroll the streets to explore carefully restored buildings, grab a treat from the vintage candy shop, ride an authentic steam train or a paddle wheeler on the reservoir, and engage with costumed interpreters who bring the history to life. The park's extensive collection of artifacts (55,000 and counting!) illustrate Calgary’s rich and diverse history, and provide a close look at the social, economic and cultural development of Western Canada. Don’t miss the display of vintage vehicles and old gas pumps in the 1950s exhibit, Gasoline Alley.

Pro tip: Book a table for lunch at the park’s  Selkirk Restaurant and enjoy the nostalgic charm and delicious food, using produce grown in the nearby heirloom gardens.

Cowboy culture

Cowboy hats and boots are the essential gear of generations of men and women who have been ranching in southern Alberta’s cattle country since the late 1800s. Two iconic outfitters are known the world over for their exquisitely handcrafted western wear. Both offer tours where you can learn how they make them and watch the craftspeople at work.

Smithbilt Hats

A family of immigrants from Russia began making fashionable felt hats in Calgary in 1919. A few years earlier in 1912, the famed Calgary Stampede had begun its journey to becoming the largest outdoor rodeo and exhibition in the country. The founders of the Stampede collaborated with Smithbilt to produce western-style hats, and the first white cowboy hat was created in 1946. It soon became a symbol not just of the Stampede but of the city’s western spirit and warm hospitality. Over the years, mayors have presented the white hat to visiting dignitaries (can you picture the Dalai Lama in a cowboy hat?) and today it’s recognized around the world. Take a private tour of the facility located in a renovated grain elevator to see the many styles and get fitted for one of your own.

Pro tip: It will be difficult to get a tour during the Calgary Stampede in July, as it’s hugely popular with visitors.

Alberta Boot Outfitters

Catering to the needs of ranchers and city slickers, visitors from around the world, famous movie actors, musicians and pro hockey players, the experts at  Alberta Boot Outfitters have been hand-crafting western boots for almost 50 years. Since 1999, they’ve been the official bootmaker for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). If you want to get fully outfitted for Stampede – not just boots, but hats, jackets, apparel and accessories – look no further for your one-stop shop for western wear.

All boots are made by hand in the workshop downtown using only the finest natural leathers and suedes. Watch the pros at work and then get custom-fitted for your own pair. Expect them to last at least 10-15 years. Then you just get them re-soled and re-heeled. Rumor has it some folks have the same pair they bought when the shop first opened.

Pro Tip: Next time you see an RCMP officer or a Calgary police officer, take a look at their boots!

Ring that dinner bell – iconic restaurants await

Calgary is renowned for its award-winning steakhouses, which reflect the city's deep ties to Alberta's cattle ranching heritage and its status as a hub for high-quality beef.

Some of them have been around since the 1950s. More recent establishments provide their own wow factor. Older or newer, all are absolutely dedicated to offering the best cuts of Alberta beef, alongside a heaping portion of atmosphere and superb service.

The timeless classics

• Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar (established 1955)
• Caesar’s Steakhouse and Lounge (est. 1972)
• Wellington’s of Calgary (est. 1979)

New kids on the block

• Vintage Chophouse and Tavern (est. 2008)
• Chairman’s Steakhouse (est. 2019)
• Major Tom (est. 2021)

Pro tip: All of the above are wildly popular. Make reservations well in advance.