Heritage Park Historical Village is a living history museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 127 acres (51 ha) of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir, in the city's southwestern quadrant. The Historical Village part of the park is open 7 days a week (10-5) from the Canadian May long weekend through to the September Labour Day long weekend, and then weekends from Labour Day through to Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in mid October. Gasoline Alley Museum and the Railway Café are open year-round. As one of Canada's largest living history museums, it is one of the city's most visited tourist attractions.[1] Exhibits span western Canadian history from the 1860s to the 1950s. Many of the buildings are historical and were transported to the park to be placed on display. Others are re-creations of actual buildings. Most of the structures are furnished and decorated with genuine artifacts. Staff dress in historic costume, and antique automobiles and horse-drawn vehicles service the site. Calgary Transit provides regular shuttle service from HeritageC-Train station. The park opened on July 1, 1964.[2]
The park is divided into four distinct areas reflecting different time periods in Western Canadian history: the Hudson's Bay Company Fur Trading Fort, c. 1864; the Pre-Railway Settlement Village, c. 1880; the Railway Prairie Town, c. 1910; and Heritage Plaza (opened 2009), depicting the 1920s to 1950s.
Exhibits
Prairie Town at Heritage ParkStreetcar
Heritage Park has over 100 exhibits including:
A passenger train, drawn by one of the park's two working steam locomotives, that takes visitors around the park on a closed loop railway. Starting in 2023 the a car has been added to the train that allows for access to visitors with mobility issues (i.e. special stairs and ramps). The loop includes 3 original (relocated) CPR stations where visitors can embark/disembark the train.
A Railway Roundhouse built in 1981,[3] which has an operational turntable and houses various railway equipment and restored passenger cars.
A streetcar from Calgary's former streetcar system, Calgary Street Railway, that shuttles passengers to and from the parking lot. This was taken out of service in 2006 in preparation for the park's expansion, and returned to service in May 2010, taking passengers from the parking lot to the newly built CPR replica station and front gate.
A 1964 re-creation of a lake paddle steamer, S.S. Moyie, which visitors can ride around the Glenmore Reservoir. Starting in 2023 the newly rebuilt dock for the S.S. Moyie includes apparatus to allow for better access by visitors with mobility issues.
The Railway Prairie Town with numerous buildings, each an example of some of the types of buildings might be found in a typical town (full of furniture and other artifacts as they would have appeared), including: working smithy, bakery, hotel, grain elevator, fire station, post office, bank, mason's lodge, lumber supplier, church, prairie school, billiard hall, newspaper office and printing press, Chinese laundry, residential hospital, town hall, Northwest Canadian Mounted Police detachment office, theatre, and other shops and restaurants.
The Pre-Railway Settlement Village with farm house and typical farm buildings, animal paddocks and a planting field. There are also living examples of some of the livestock that could be found in such a place (i.e. draft horses, cattle, mules, chickens, sheep, pigs, turkeys, etc.) but it is not a petting zoo.
An antique midway that features working historical amusement park rides
The First Nations Encampment representing the Indigenous peoples in southern Alberta in the 19th century
An exhibition space (first opened in 2022) called Innovation Crossing which overlooks Glenmore Reservoir. It contains a collection of immersive displays helping visitor guests to learn about energy, its place in our world and what the future of energy transition looks like.
the 2 story Gasoline Alley Museum showcasing the park's extensive antique gasoline pump, antique car and memorabilia collection
Heritage Plaza, located in front of the park gates, contains Haskayne Mercantile Block, Selkirk Grille restaurant (in the same building as Gasoline Alley), the Railway Café, the Railway Interpretative Centre, and a central park area. It was opened in 2009 and admission is free in this area of the park.
The Bissett Wetlands (used in various school programs) are located east of the Heritage Park parking lot near the park entrance.
Many of the exhibit spaces (e.g. hotel, barns, Gasoline alley, upper floors of buildings) are used year-round (including when the park is not open to the public) for special events such as weddings, corporate meetings, company barbecues, fundraisers, etc.
Expansion
In March 2009, Heritage Park opened a major new expansion, Heritage Plaza. The addition features several new buildings depicting a larger 1930s and 1940s western Canadian town. Within Heritage Plaza, Gasoline Alley Museum and the Railway Café are open year-round, unlike the rest of the park, which is seasonal. The attractions added in the 2009 expansion included:
a new year-round Gasoline Alley Museum
an orientation/visitor's centre (within a replica railway station)
a 1930s town square (which includes shops, and food services)
a re-creation of a CPR railway station restaurant
The Famous 5 Center of Canadian Women - A replica of Nellie McClung's Calgary home which tells the story of influential women in Canadian history
a large new parking area for visitors.
Special Events
Heritage Park additionally puts on a number of special events throughout the year. Some of these special events occur during the summer season when the park is open for general admission and many of the events occur outside of the summer season. The following is a list of some of these special events:
Sunday Brunches throughout the year.
High Tea events throughout the year.
Special after hours night time "Ghost Tours" at various times throughout the year.
Day out with Thomas. Two weekends of events with Thomas the Tank Engine and related characters. A fully size Thomas the Tank Engine (the face of which moves and talks) is coupled to the front of the park's steam train and passenger cars (and people ride the train). Part of a North America tour that Mattel Toys puts on each year. Other full size Thomas characters walk the park. People can ride the train. Many other events with Thomas themes and a fully array of Thomas Mattel products for sale.
Festival of Quilts. Anyone who has hand made a quilt in the last year may submit it for display during this event. 100s of quilts are displayed throughout the park.
School Patrol Day. The kids who man the crossing guard school patrol at 100s of schools across Calgary come to enjoy the park. They are hosted by dozens of representatives from Calgary's police, fire and ambulance services along with numerous volunteers from Alberta Motor Association and Heritage Park's volunteer group.
Alberta Days. A free day at the park for all Albertans with all the usual park amenities plus some extra ones just for the day.
Carnivale. An adult evening of circus type entertainment, food and arcade fun.
Railway days. One weekend at the park with a special focus on railway themes. The demonstration of the use of 2 steam engines together in a double header formation. Model railroads displays from local clubs.
Ghouls Night Out. Most buildings and grounds are transformed with special Halloween themed displays and decorations. Special Halloween activities for kids at many locations. Special theatrical displays throughout the park with a Halloween theme.
Once Upon A Christmas. Many buildings and grounds are transformed with special Christmas themed displays and decorations. Select park buildings are open for various special activities and displays. Special Christmas shopping retail options set up throughout the park.
Heritage Park Historical Village is a charitable institution governed by The Heritage Park Society. The Society was incorporated on December 10, 1963. The land that Heritage Park is located on is owned by the City of Calgary. The Heritage Park Foundation Board, incorporated on March 17, 1976, is responsible for the stewardship of the Park's endowment funds and is elected by up to 200 members of the Heritage Park Foundation. Most (if not all) of Heritage Park's exhibits and buildings have been funded by donations by corporations and individuals and through grants from various levels of government. Heritage Park's annual operating budget is funded partially by ticket sales and partially by government grants, donations, and endowment funds.
Heritage Park employs a core group of full time year round employees and then hires a large number of seasonal employees for the summer season. Heritage Park also relies on a large group of volunteers from the community who assist in various ways throughout the park.
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