Key Number:	HS 17957
Site Name:	Fort Calgary Archaeological Site
Other Names:
Site Type:	1311 - Governmental: Police Station or Post 1910 - Archaeological Site

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			24	1	5

Address:	750 - 9 Avenue SE
Number:	50
Street:	7 SE
Avenue:	9 SE
Other:
Town:	Calgary
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:
Storeys:
Foundation:
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	N/A
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	N/A
Condition:	N/A
Alterations:	N/A

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Established Site sold to Grand Trunk Pacific Railway	1875/01/01 1914/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
North West Mounted Police	1875/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
N/A

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	- In 1875, inspector Brisbois of the R.N.W.M.P. and a detachment of 50 men built a fort at the Junction of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. - It was initially called Fort Brisbois but later renamed Fort Calgary by Colonel James MacLeod. - A second post, without walls, was constructed in the early 1880's. * * * N.W.M.P. built first log fort in 1875, enlarged post in 1882, 1884, 1889, etc., and removed much of original fort as early as 1882. Land was sold to the Grand Trunk Pacific Rlwy in 1914, and storage warehouses, garages, scrap metal yards and spur lines covered the area. First exploratory digs sponsored by Glenbow in 1969 and 1970, followed by adoption of entire site (plus 8 acres east of the Elbow River) as the City of Calgary's main Centennial Project. Archaeological work continued 1975 and 1976 with further remains of the original log fort, plus extensive sandstone foundations of the 1889 barracks. An Interpretive Centre will be built beside the ruins to assist in dealing with information about the remains, and also about various aspects of the site's history - natural history, mounted police life, etc. The fort was the first permanent settlement at the site of what is now the City of Calgary, and until the arrival of the C.P.R. in 1883, was the focus for growth of the small community. Has been re-zoned as parkland, and will be a replanted prairie, with external and indoor interpretive programming. Approximately 32 acres of open land; archaelogy, earth moving and bridge building all in progress. Fort Calgary shows the remains of not only a small log Mounted Police Fort, but also the progression to a more permanent divisional headquarters. This seems to be the only site where such a progression can be found in the western area. It is also important because of the project itself, in which years of industrial use of the site have been erased in order to preserve the local heritage. * * * Information about the original fort and its later enlargements are available from Glenbow - Dr. H.A. Dempsey. Mr. Ron Getty, Glenbow, was in charge of the 1970 dig at the site. Mr. Colin Poole, Aresco Ltd. Calgary, is resposible for the archaeological work at the site in 1975 and 1966. * * * Site Description: Fort Calgary was established by the North West Mounted Police in 1875 and was one of the first three posts in Alberta, joining Fort Macleod and Fort Saskatchewan. The Fort and its detachment were crucial to the progress of the transcontinental rail line through southern Alberta and the peaceful settlement of the region. A small community grew up around the Fort and became the nucleus of the City that was to become Calgary. In 1914, the site was sold to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway who removed most of the buildings. Only sub-surface evidence of Fort Calgary remains, some of which has been excavated by archaeologists. Historical Significance: The Fort Calgary site, through its associations with the NWMP and as the birthplace of the present day city, is of major, provincial, historical importance. It was one of the first NWMP outposts in western Canada and, in 1882, achieved further prominence as a divisional headquarters. Around it developed one of the first permanent settlements in Southhern Alberta and, until the arrival of the CPR in Calgary in 1883, the Fort was the focus of development for the small community. The detachment played a major role in facilitating construction of the CPR and the 'Calgary and Edmonton' train lines, enforced Department of the Interior control over three major Blackfoot reserves, and assisted the cause of western settlement. Architectural Significance: None of the surface elements remain. Nevertheless the 1875 buildings from Fort Calgary were architecturally significant because they were of vertical rather than horizontal log construction as were most early NWMP buildings in Alberta. Some subsequent buildings rested on sandstone foundations, the earliest use of this material in the 'Sandstone City'. Archeological Importance: The site has been demonstrated to be of archaeological importance, as evidenced by excavations in 1970, 1975, 1976 and 1977. These activites have clearly shown the existence of a series of occupations dating from initial construction of the fort in 1875 and extending into the twentieth century. The outline of the original fort is represented by the ruins of upright posts set into trenches for the palisades, building walls and partitions. Archaeological features, including hearth stains and pits, were also exposed. Large quantities of artifacts were recovered indicating the range and character of daily life. Historically documented structures such as the powder magazine, the flagpole and latrines, as well as previously recorded features such as fence lines and refuse pits, have yet to be excavated at this early fort. The archaeological information is an unequivocally crucial source for clarifying and supplementing ambiguous and unrecorded historical data. Notes on Fort Calgary: - This location chosen was most appropriate to discourage itinerant traders from disposing of their whiskey amongst the Blackfeet, Sarcee and Stony Indians. - F troop from Fort Macleod, Inspector Brisibois I/C, and accompanied by Colonel Macleod set out on Aug. 18, 1875. - In September they established a tent camp at the junction of the Bow and the Swift (Elbow) Rivers. - The I.G. Baker company contracted to build the fort. The timber was cut six miles up the Elbow River and rafted to the site. - Fourteen-foot logs were placed upright in 3-foot trenches forming a square from 150-200 feet on a side. - The men's quarters were on the east side of the square with the storerooms and shops opposite. On the north side were the stables built for 50 horses, and on the south the officers quarters and the guardroom. - The buildings were covered with poles and earth, the logs were chinked with clay. The necessary lumber was cut with a whip saw; the fireplaces were built by John Glenn out of building stone found in the river. - The buildings were ready by Christmans, 1875; the stockade was not finished until later.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Municipal A List Provincial Historic Resource	1982/03/10

Register:	11-124

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0192