Visiting Fort Macleod

From a distance, Fort Macleod looks like any other town. It is at a crossroads that once hosted Indian encampments, wagon trails and buffalo grazing grounds, in view of the Porcupine Hills that front the ancient and majestic Rocky Mountains. The last frontier in the west is home to Alberta's only Provincial Historic Area.

As you get closer, there is a definite feeling of being in two very different eras. Here, past and present co-exist. The place, known 150 years ago as Blackfoot Crossing, became a North West Mounted Police barracks and trading post in 1874. The town gradually took shape alongside the Oldman River, named for the "Grandfather" of Blackfoot mythology and within easy view of the majestic Rocky Mountains.

Fort Macleod's historic area draws you into the past to a time when the North West Mounted Police, Blackfoot Indians and pioneer settlers were the only inhabitants. Main Street is dotted with gift shops, antique stores, motels and restaurants. Right in the middle of the Historic Block is the "Jewel of the West," the Empress Theatre. The Empress is the oldest continually-operating theatre in Western Canada.

Continue your downtown stroll over to the Fort Museum of The North West Mounted Police, a replica of the original fort where historical re-enactments are the order of the day. You'll also find intriguing exhibits showcasing North West Mounted Police and Blackfoot Indian history. From July 1st to the Labour Day Weekend you can enjoy the Fort's own NWMP Musical Ride four times daily, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm, weather permitting.

From the Fort, you can wander down to the Oldman River, the river that is always changing. A Wilderness Park on the other side of the bridge is a nature preserve, filled with wildlife and native plants.

Take in a round or two of golf at the oldest golf course, a 9-hole course that is a great place to while away time. Or check out the shops, tours and restaurants by day and movies at the Empress by night. Take "A Walking Tour of Fort Macleod" and learn about the early life and history of the town. Tour guides and locals can provide those extra tidbits that add flavour to history. You might ask about the bullet holes in the giant art nouveau mirror over the bar in the Silver Grill or Eddy the ghost of the Empress Theatre.

Fort Macleod is at the hub of southwest Alberta adventures and tours. From your homebase here, take a day to explore nearby Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A short drive south is Waterton National Park, with a reputation as one of the most stunningly beautiful parks in North America.

The Spring season in Fort Macleod kicks off with a classic car show, followed by a French Film Festival, easing into the early summer events. Summer is the busiest time of year in Fort Macleod, with historical tours, the Musical Ride, antique shows, rodeos, art exhibitions, live entertainment and much more. The Heritage Fair and Quilt  Show is held in early August.

If you're here at the end of November, you will find Christmas craft fairs and family fun, and the largest Santa Claus Parade in western Canada. You and 10,000 others will line the streets for this incredible undertaking that showcases marching bands, floats, clowns, horse-drawn carriages and a procession of First Nations riders in full regalia, on horseback. The Santa Claus Parade is now in its 25th year.

Welcome to Fort Macleod, where history lives!