Path of the Mounties
The history of Canada’s famed “Mounties” originated in the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP). They followed a southern path across the prairies. Today there are four historical sites to follow this path. We still start just inside the British Columbia provincial border, move to Fort Macleod, drive to Calgary, and end in the Beautiful Town of Canmore. Please note that most of these sites are seasonal only, and hours and full programs vary outside July and August. We recommend checking out each location’s website to confirm what is available for your trip dates.
Just over the Alberta/British Columbia border, Fort Steele is named after famed Mountie and military officer Sir Samuel Steele. Steele was born in Medonte Township in the Province of Canada (now Ontario) in 1848. He came from a military family where his father, a Naval Captain, served in the Napoleonic Wars, and six brothers later served in the British Armed Forces. Steele participated in many domestic actions in Canada, including the Fenian Raids, the Red River Expedition, and the Red River Rebellion. He was sworn in as the third officer in the newly formed North West Mounted Police and eventually assigned to various posts in Western Canada, becoming the first Commanding Officer of the Strathcona’s Horse, now the Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment (Royal Canadians) located in Edmonton, Alberta. The 1898 fort, named after him, hosts a museum, livestock, recreated shops, displays, plaques, and a bakery. Plan at least three-quarters of a day to see it. Details can be found at https://www.fortsteele.ca/. There is an entrance fee.
Travelling East from Fort Steele, you will arrive at the historical NWMP barracks in Fort MacLeod. Simply known as “The Fort,” this is the only permanent location of the NWMP Musical Ride. The museum is open beginning in May through early October, but the musical ride starts in July. There is an entrance fee and a musical ride fee, both of which are needed to see the ride. The fort hosts an educational program and plays, including the March of the Redcoats school program, which talks about the NWMP and the abolition of whiskey. For more details about current times, bookings, and events, see https://www.nwmpmuseum.com/. A free virtual field trip is available for students. Plan 2-4 hours for the visit.
Moving North to Calgary, we find the Berry Creek NWMP post, a historical landmark for the City of Calgary and part of the popular Heritage Park. The park hosts 180 exhibits ranging from 50% original relocated or restored buildings, 25% replicas, and 25% analogues. The park’s historical collection features 50,000 artifacts ranging from the 1860s to the 1950s. Historical reenactors with authentic replica attire grace the park grounds. Unique features at the park include an operational steam train you can ride, horse-drawn wagon rides, a riverboat, and midway rides. The village is open from the May long weekend until Labour Day and weekends only until Thanksgiving. We recommend June-August as the best times to attend. There is an entrance fee for the park with a paid parking lot for stays over 90 minutes (normally those going to the shops and restaurants), but we feel that the park provides one of the best values for money in the province and a very unique experience. Plan on a full day at Heritage Park and see the Berry Creek NWMP post while you are there. See https://heritagepark.ca/ for details, hours of operation, and current pricing. See www.gozeeit.com for more events in Calgary.
Our final stop is outside Calgary at Canmore at the Canmore North West Mounted Police Barracks and Canmore museum ( 609 8 St, Canmore, AB T1W 2B1and https://canmoremuseum.com/visiting-the-nwmp-barracks/). The museum talks about mining and life in the local area with changing annual exhibits. The NWMP was sent to the site to quell issues with American whiskey being smuggled from the US, which is causing numerous problems amongst the local population and miners. The barracks feature a small, original building dedicated as a museum in 1990 following prior ownership as a private residence once the NWMP completed their mandate. The museum has a modest entrance fee, but trails around the museum and barracks were free and open to the public at the time of writing. The museum is not open every day, even during the tourist season, so we recommend calling ahead to confirm opening times. At the time of writing, it was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Canmore is an excellent launching site for exploration into Canada’s most renowned national parks, Banff and Jasper.
The full map can be found here and events along the route can be found at www.gozeeit.com:
