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Top 10 Amazing Facts about Fort Edmonton Park

This is a heritage park that is created with architecture from the late 19th century and early 20th century. Situated in 158 acres of wooded parklands, the park is one of the best recreational parks in the country. The park began in 1967 as a centennial reconstruction project along Edmonton’s River Valley. To date, the Edmonton Park is still growing and this is attributed to the Ford Edmonton Foundation and the Rotary Club of Edmonton which is dedicated to ensuring that the park is well functioning.

Therefore, this article will look at ten amazing things the park has to offer to the outdoor enthusiast and history lovers.

1. Period architecture

The most amazing feature of the park is the period architecture that is found at the park. The park has the 1885 street that shows how the town began with the establishment of printing media and telegraphs. The street also has references to major political events that happened during this time. THE 1905 Street shows how the economic boom brought with it a lack of housing and thus features tents that housed people. The 1920 street shows the time of the first World War when modern technologies had emerged.

2. Wagon and Pony rides

The park is filled with activities that visitors can choose from which include wagon and pony rides. The wagon picks visitors from the McDougall Store and takes them on a ten-minute ride that the visitors are guaranteed to enjoy.

The ponies are friendly and take the visitors through the pioneer west. The visitors are guaranteed their safety in that the ponies are carefully monitored by the pony handlers who make sure that the ponies and the people riding them are safe.

3. Capitol Theatre

The theatre is a recreation of Edmonton’s original Capitol Theatre which was around in 1929. The details of how the original theatre was recreated at this theatre but the old time charm is the only thing that is old in the theatre. The contemporary building is a multi-million dollar project that was completed in 2011 that always has many events planned at the cinema. The cinema attracts a lot of audiences which sits 243 people.

4. The train and the streetcar in the park

If one is interested in travelling back time, then they should board the 1919 Baldwin Steam Engine. The train takes a person from the train station at the front of the park to one at the back of the park that is close to the 1846 fort. The train is liked by both the younger and older generation.

The streetcar is also available at the park to give the tourists a glimpse into how life was in the past. It is managed by volunteers of the park.

5. The Johnny. J. Jones Exhibition

The exposition has a lot to offer to the tourist as it has a variety of activities one can engage in. There is a shooting gallery in the park that allows tourists to practice and perfect their shooting skills. With the efforts made by the Rotary Club of Edmonton and the Fort Edmonton Foundation, more entertainment amenities have been added to the park which includes an outdoor maze, a Ferris wheel and a Cabinet of Curios.

The Cabinet of Curios features a custom slideshow that is full of tricks and screams which excite the children who visit the park.

6. The park can get spooky sometimes

The local legend says that the Firkins House that is located on the q905 street has a ghost boy and a strange female figure that roam around and even show up in pictures. This can be quite scary if one is a believer in paranormal things. There have also been reports of unexplainable noises in the park which makes it even scarier.

7. The original fort is not at the park

It is hard to believe that Fort Edmonton Park is not the original fort because it features old wood and the original houses that were relocated to the current location from the original construction sites. Therefore, finding the original fort location is a bit of a scavenger hunt as it is just a square of cleared land. This means that someone may miss it while looking for it as they expect something notable.

8. The Indigenous People’s Experience

Visitors can gather and explore the lives that the nation’s first people looked like. By delving into their culture and experiences, they get to understand the perspectives of the local indigenous people that lived around the Edmonton region. The stories, artwork, music and texts were gotten from conversations with historians, indigenous elders, educators and educators. Therefore the content found at the park is factual as a lot of research was put into it.

9. Camps at the park

The park has camping grounds which can be used by visitors and locals to experience the outdoor experience. The camping grounds are ideal as one is assured of their safety and therefore, they can enjoy camping with family and friends while ensuring that no harm comes to them. The camping grounds are also ideal for groups like scouts and youth groups as they get to interact while learning about the country’s history.

10. Several royalties have visited the park

The park attracts a lot of tourists who want to experience the architecture from the late 19th century and early 20th century. Therefore royalty was also not left behind with the most notable ones being Princess Diana of Wales and Prince Charles. The two royals dressed up in traditional period clothes that reflected the period and made a tour of Canada in 1983. The pictures from the event are even found online and also in the train station gift shop.