Historic places in Calgary

19 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Calgary.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

SeeSoutheast
Bow Valley Ranche
William Roper Hull Ranche House
Former ranch, now a historical site. Features interpretive walks, art gallery, artisan gardens, and restaurant.
BuySoutheast
Crossroads Market
Less than 5 minutes from downtown with ample free parking, Crossroads Markets is in an eclectic historical building. Crossroads Market is home to a flea market, antique market, indoor farmers' market, international food fair and a seasonal outdoor farmers' market.
Indoor market: Fri-Sun 9AM-5PM, outdoor market: Fri-Sun 8AM-5PM (summer)
EatSoutheast
Deane House
Refined seasonal Canadian cuisine in a historic riverside home with a garden.
Tue-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri 11AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-9PM$26+
BuySoutheast
Inglewood
Centred on 9 Ave SE, east of the Elbow River, this quirky neighbourhood is almost devoid of chain businesses, leaving a sea of unique businesses. The highlights are the coffee shops, art galleries, trendy clothiers, and upscale furniture shops. Inglewood is an urban shopping area, an historic district, and a downloadable self-guided walking tour is available.
EatCity Centre
James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant
The pub is in a historic building and its interior has a nice vintage decor. Mixed review on food: Jalapeño & bacon burger was nice; Atlantic Salmon was overcooked.
11AM to 2AM or midnight Sundays
DoCity Centre
Pumphouse Theatre
Two theatres in a historic brick waterworks building play host to a large part of Calgary's semi-pro and community theatre scene, with new productions here every week.
$20-40
EatSoutheast
Rouge
In the historic A.E. Cross House (1891), Rouge's focus has long been on excellent cuisine with local food, including some grown in their own on-site garden. Tasting menu available. Bistro Rouge is their more casual & affordable restaurant in southwest Calgary.
Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30AM-1:30PM; dinner Mon-Sat 5-10:30PM$38-48 per main dish (dinner)
BuyCity Centre
Stephen Avenue Walk
Stephen Avenue Walk is a pedestrianized section of 8 Ave SW in the heart of Calgary's downtown core. It is home mostly to restaurants and some bars, but you will still find some major retail shops fronting it. Stephen Avenue is also home to most of the downtown mall called the Core. Stephen Avenue is also a Canadian National Historic District. A downloadable self-guided walking tour is available.
SeeCity Centre
The Confluence
The Confluence (formerly known as Fort Calgary), a Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP, now RCMP) fort was built in 1875 at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers (near modern Inglewood). It became the nucleus around which Calgary grew. The original fort was destroyed decades ago. Today, it is a museum and historic site focusing on the history of the city and of the RCMP.
9AM-5PM$11/adult, $11/concession, $6/youth, $8/senior, indigenous peoples and children free
SeeSouthwest Not mapped
Battalion Park
A tribute to local soldiers that trained for the First World War at the former Sarcee Camp, this small park has an interpretive 500-m-long walking trail/staircase up the side of a steep hill. Soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force left enormous battalion numerals spelled out in whitewashed stones on the hillside, which have been restored as a permanent memorial. The trail also includes a monument and a self-guided tour with historical tablets and photographs. Most of the numbers are easily seen from the parking lots of the nearby Signal Hill and West Hills shopping centres.
SeeCity Centre Not mapped
Chinese Cultural Centre
Located in Chinatown, the centre piece of the complex is modeled after the Hall of Prayers of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Chinese Artifacts Museum is located on the lower level of the centre. Exhibits include the story of Chinese immigration in Canada, and the history of the Chinese community in Calgary. There are also replicas of different kinds of Chinese artifacts, including Terracotta warriors, mahogany furniture set, ceramics, sculptures, clothing, bronze pieces and art.
Cultural Centre: 9AM-9PM daily; Museum: 11AM-5PM daily
SeeSouthwest Not mapped
Edworthy Park
Edworthy Park sits in a valley along the Bow River in southwest Calgary and includes the majestic Douglas Fir Trail and historical Lawrey Gardens.
DoSouthwest Not mapped
Heritage Park
Heritage Park Historical Village
One of the largest living historical villages in North America, on 66 acres of land near the Glenmore Reservoir. Attractions include a working passenger train, 155 historical exhibits, a candy store and bakery, old fashioned amusement park, and riding on the S.S. Moyie, a paddlewheel boat. In the winter, only a few attractions are open.
Summer 10AM-5PM, Fall Sat Sun 10AM-5PM, closed in winter$26.50/adult, $13.65/child, $18.95/youth, $20.70/senior
Do Not mapped
Historic Calgary Week
(Late July & early August, 10 days) Learn about local history through talks, behind the scenes tours, and walks.
Free, donations welcome
SeeCity Centre Not mapped
Lougheed House
Beaulieu National Historic Site
Historical mansion and National Historic Site; it was built in 1891 by Senator James Alexander Lougheed (grandfather Peter Lougheed, 10th Premier of Alberta). Lougheed House has been a family residence, a training centre for young women, a women's military barracks, and a blood donor clinic before it was restored in 2000. The public can visit both the house and its gardens.
House: Wed-Fri 11AM-4PM; Sat Sun 10AM-4PM Garden: 7AM-sundown daily$8.50/adult, $6.50/seniors & students, $5/child (ages 6-12), free/child (under 6)
SeeCity Centre Not mapped
Mission and 4th Street
Rouleauville
The Mission district was established as a French and Catholic settlement (later called Rouleauville) at the same time that Calgary was founded. Historic displays at Rouleauville Square and the Elbow River Promenade tell the story of the area. In many ways, Mission acts as an extension of 17th Avenue. Like the Beltline, it is packed full of interesting restaurants and shops. It does not share 17th Avenue's late night reputation, however, and it generally lacks the bars and nightclubs. Mission extends from 4th Street SW to 1st Street SE and from 17th Avenue SW in the north to 26th Avenue and the Elbow River in the south.
SeeCity Centre Not mapped
Stephen Avenue
8 Avenue S
One of Calgary's most famous streets, Stephen Avenue was declared a National Historic District by the Canadian government. The street is lined with many attractive older buildings. It is a major venue for boutique shopping, bars, pubs and restaurants. The mall is closed to vehicle traffic from 6AM-6PM daily.
SeeSouthwest Not mapped
The Military Museums
The most extensive military museum in Canada outside of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, this facility houses galleries devoted to four local army regiments, galleries for the air force and navy, and several general interest galleries. It covers Canadians' service in the Boer War, the World Wars, the Korean War, the Cold War, and post-1945 operations with the UN and NATO including Cyprus, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. There is an outdoor historical vehicle display. Formerly the Museum of the Regiments.
EatCity Centre
Regency Palace
Chinese cuisine.
10AM-10PM daily

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Calgary (CC BY-SA 4.0).