Fort Edmonton, Canada

Let’s head back in Canadian history… to the mid 1840’s.

Fort Edmonton here we come.

(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

We enter the park and find ourselves in a train station (a train station of the 1920’s!)

A refurbished steam train takes us back…

figuratively, back in time; literally, to the far end of the park.

All aboard!

 

As we rumble past farms, past pastures with grazing horses,

past buildings (like this church) that have been moved to the park,

one gets a sense that you are turning back the pages of time.

Once at the fort we walk around the wooden palisades and enter the world of the fur traders that thrived here in the 1800’s.

There is Rowand house where the Hudson Bay Company factor (boss) lived, where business was transacted, where important guest were entertained.

 

It was meant to impress (as well as being practical)

and became known as “Rowand’s Folly”.

Today there is a demonstration of bead work being presented on the main floor.

Through the windows of ‘the big house” we look out onto the green surrounded by other parts of the fort.

We can peek into the living quarters (some for single men, some for families)

and look in at the workshop where wooden barrels are being made.

Here a York boat is under construction.

York boats? They were the boats that carried furs to Lake Winnipeg and then on to the Hudson Bay for export to Europe. On the return trip they brought needed goods from Europe to the fort…and just as important, goods for trading. 

No wonder most forts were built on the banks of a major river. (Fort Edmonton is on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.)

Fort Edmonton was not built for defense. Instead of keeping others out, it was built to attract the native population and encourage them to bring in their furs to trade.

Today costumed actors recreate this time in history…and they are very happy to engage with visitors.

We met this actor in the role of a Metis trader who has set up his tent outside the walls of the fort. He was lots of fun! So, decision time. Do we take the train back to another time? or shall we walk?

Join us on 1885 Street and 1905 Street, click here.

or

Visit more of Canada, click here.

and/or

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Happy travels!