Bar U Ranch Historic Site: Part 1

Established as an open range cattle ranch back in 1881, today the Bar U Ranch is a National Historic Site that preserves the ranching heritage of Alberta. This was one stop on my Rocky Mountain road trip that absolutely blew me away. The stunning location in the foothills, the presentation of the buildings, the attention to detail in how the artifacts were incorporated, and the incredible staff all made for a truly memorable visit.

If I'm honest, I really had no idea what to expect at the Bar U Ranch, so perhaps that's why I enjoyed being surprised by it so much. With the exception of a school group that was finishing up as I arrived, I almost had the entire location to myself. I loved exploring each building and photographing the scenes presented. 

The Bar U Ranch is like a museum, but there's something far more genuine about how the history is showcased here. I walked into the cookhouse thinking a meal was being prepared only to realize after closer inspection that the realistic looking food was fake. And that's my point, you'll find yourself appreciating the details of a display here before you realize that you're actually standing in the middle of a much larger one. 

My visit was capped by an engrossing and lively conversation around a campfire. A staff member took an interest in my passion for history and photography, and was all too happy to share her stories about the Bar U Ranch and her own travels. In my mind it was just one more bit of authenticity that made my trip resonate.  

There's simply too much to summarize, but as you'd expect I shot hundreds of images during my visit. I've divided my favorite shots into four separate posts highlighting different areas of the Bar U Ranch: the hay shed, chop house, ranch office / post office, tractor shed, cookhouse, blacksmith's shop, leather shop, and barns. The Bar U Ranch is well worth your time and an amazing place to explore!  

Hutchings and Sharp Interior: Part 3

It's been over a year since my last visit to the Hutchinson Block, the former home of Hutchings and Sharp in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta. I was contacted recently about a potential project and was asked to come by and have a look at the work that's been done since the property was purchased. Big things are happening!

This building used to be like a western museum with all of the random things that had previously been left behind. Here were my shots of the old interior. The location is now in the process of being renovated. The original tin ceiling that found under the wooden boards is going to be preserved, along with a few other historic / architectural details of the building. The old storefront shop windows have now been removed, and a beautiful glass entrance will later replace it. The plans for the space look really impressive, and I'm just happy that someone is utilizing this space and making it relevant again. History is all well and good, but if no one steps up buildings like this simply fall apart.

Interior with everything stripped away.

Original tin ceilings peeking through.

The store front showcases now removed.

Prince of Wales Hotel: Part 1

Constructed between 1926-1927, the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta is one of the great Canadian railway hotels. The interesting thing is that it was actually built by an American railway company, the Great Northern Railway, and it became the sole Canadian link in their U.S. chain of resort hotels. Fittingly, the Prince of Wales Hotel was used as an attraction for affluent tourists visiting from Glacier National Park in Montana.

Today the hotel is still a big draw, if not for the structure itself, because of the unbelievable view. Unlike so many other historic properties in the Rockies, the exterior of the Prince of Wales Hotel appears almost unchanged from how it looked back when it was built. The architecture echoes that of an alpine chalet one might expect to see in Europe, and the original timber-framed interior still remains. Appropriately, the Prince of Wales Hotel was designated a National Historic Site in 1995.

Prince of Wales Hotel - Vintage Postcard ca. 1930s

Prince of Wales Hotel Lobby - Vintage Postcard ca. 1930s