Reading time: 4 minutes
With scenery as jaw-dropping as it is in Banff National Park, it’s easy to let the peaks steal the show entirely. But with a human history that dates back more than 10,000 years, Canada’s first national park also oozes with riveting stories of the past.
Here’s where you can dive into this intriguing history and put a new spin on your time in this treasured natural landscape.
Arrowhead and other artifacts have been uncovered at archeological sites in the Banff area that reveal Indigenous Peoples have had a presence in the mountains for thousands of years. The Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum connects past to present and provides a window into the extraordinary heritage of the Indigenous People of the Canadian Rockies.
Best for: Indigenous Heritage, Artifacts.
The world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, opened in 1888, was conceived by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a luxurious hotel. The idea is that it would bolster tourism to the Canadian Rockies and help fund the completion of the railroad. Located at the convergence of the Spray and Bow rivers, this “castle” is beautiful, both inside and out. Visit the Heritage Hall to view photographs from a bygone era.
Best for: Architecture, Old Photographs, Ambiance, Location.
These hot springs were discovered by three railway workers in 1883, but were previously known only to local Indigenous people. What ensued was a controversy over ownership that would result in the creation of Canada’s first national park, then named the Banff Hot Springs Reserve. Though the pools are no longer open for swimming, you can still visit both cave and basin, and learn more about Canada’s national parks system.
Best for: Storytelling, Interpretation, Natural Sites.
The Whyte Museum is Banff’s hub for both mountain history and art collections of the Canadian Rockies. It was established by Peter and Catharine Whyte in 1968. Admission grants you access to both permanent and temporary exhibits, and you can also book private tours of the museum and the heritage homes nearby. Those curious about the Whyte’s vast archives can book an appointment and also view the collection database online.
Best for: Art, Artifacts, Storytelling.
This gorgeous log building near Banff’s Central Park, built in 1903, is the oldest natural history museum in western Canada, and the oldest surviving federal building in any Canadian national park. You can see 5,000 botanical and zoological specimens and the museum showcases an early approach to the interpretation of natural history. It’s for this reason it’s been coined a "museum of a museum.”
Best for: Interpretation, Architecture.
Imagine a time before cars when visitors arrived by rail and disembarked onto the train station platform before continuing by horse to Lake Louise. Now a restaurant, the Lake Louise Train Station offers an ambiance that will sweep you away into its storied past. Enjoy a delicious meal before you peruse the historic photos and old rail artifacts on display. Visitors with a special occasion may want to book the Delamere, a restored dining car that will transport you back to the early 1900s.
Best for: Ambiance, Historic Photos, Artifacts.
You’ll be wowed by the setting and this impressive structure on the shores of beautiful Lake Louise encircled by mountains. Another hotel built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, it was originally a one-storey log cabin. With the rising fame of Lake Louise, the hotel was expanded over time and was destroyed by devastating fires. The current main building, which features the Italian villa style that the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is known for, dates back to 1912. Apart from the gorgeous interiors, be sure to take a glance at the mountain peaks across the lake. It’s largely these peaks, such as Mounts Victoria and Lefroy, that put Canada on the map for its mountaineering potential.
One of the most Canadian ways to enjoy the hotel is to rent a red canoe and paddle on the lake.
Best for: Architecture, Ambiance, Location.
This list only scrapes the surface. Visit Travel Alberta’s listings of Museums and Historic Sites across the province.
