Nov 7, 2018

10 Architectural Gems in Alberta

When my Around Alberta travel photography series launched back in 2014 I found myself exploring a lot of incredible and iconic locations around this province. 

Alberta ArchitectureShape, colour, symmetry, design, texture - some of my favourite highlights from the series have involved architecture. When I thought about sharing a few pictures from the archive, these were 10 spots (among numerous others) that sprung to mind. How many have you explored / visited yourself? See if you can identify these 10 architectural gems found around Alberta. If there are a few spots you don't recognize you'll find the locations listed at the bottom of this post. 

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

Alberta Architecture

How many did you know?

1. Calgary Tower in Calgary, Alberta. 2. Wonderland Sculpture in Calgary, Alberta. 3. Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park. 4. Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Alberta. 5. Medicine Hat Public Library in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 6. Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. 7. Banff Park Museum in Banff National Park. 8. High Level Bridge in Lethbridge, Alberta. 9. Glacier Skywalk in Jasper National Park. 10. Studio Bell in Calgary, Alberta.

Nov 5, 2018

A Postcard Mailed From Banff in 1953

With Banff National Park and visits to Alberta's Rockies still as popular as ever, it's cool to look back at vintage postcards and see just how much has (or often hasn't) changed. This postcard was mailed from Banff, Alberta to Webster, New York on June 25, 1953.

Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff Alberta
Featuring an image of Castle Mountain, this vintage postcard lists the location as Mount Eisenhower. The mountain held that name between 1946 to 1979, named after World War II General (and later 34th President of the United States) Dwight D. Eisenhower. The image of Castle Mountain is by Byron Harmon, who was a prominent photographer of the Canadian Rockies and owned a photography business in Banff until his death in 1942.

Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff AlbertaThe back of the postcard reads, "We returned to Lake Louise today again as yesterday it snowed all day up here and poured rain. Today it is nice. Got lots of pictures today. Cloudy but nice. We got pictures of 2 elk, 3 moose, one at a time we saw 12 moose, 9 elk, 1 beaver, lots of bears. We stayed in Banff last night. Plan to go back and stay at same place tonight."  

An additional scribble says they were staying at the Homestead Hotel, which amazingly still exists in Banff, Alberta today as the Homestead Inn. 

Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff Alberta

Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff Alberta

Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff Alberta
Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff Alberta


Vintage Castle Mountain Postcard Banff Alberta