Waterton Lakes National Park - in pictures

Waterton Lakes National Park

Take a look back at Waterton's history in photos, capturing some of the key moments in the park's colourful past.

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A scan of an official letter stating that Waterton Lakes was protected as a Forest Park (click to view enlarged image)
The official document stating that, by Order in Council, a 140 sq/km area around the Waterton lakes was protected as the 'Kootenay Lakes Forest Park Reserve'. Credit: Parks Canada / WNHA Collection
A sketch of what is now Waterton Lakes National park, from around 1890
Kootenay Lakes (or Waterton Lakes) Forest Park Reserve, circa 1890. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-430-28
A drilling rig in the Akamina Valley
First oil strike occurs on September 21, 1902, producing a flow of 300 barrels per day of high-grade oil at 'Original Discovery No.1' well site in the Akamina Valley. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-1585-7
Park warden staff in the 1930s
The Warden Service was created in 1908 and became the official organisation for managing national parks, the first of its kind. Pictured is the Waterton Lakes National Park Warden staff in the 1930s. L-R: Jack Giddie; J. C. 'Bo' Holroyd; L. 'Mac' MacAllister; Bert Barnes. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-4071-2
Long-time Waterton resident John George 'Kootenai' Brown was appointed as Waterton Lakes Forest Park Ranger in 1910. Here he is pictured with U.S. Ranger Albert 'Death-on-the-Trail' Reynolds. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-138-3
The Hazzard Hotel in Waterton, in 1910
The first lots in Waterton Park (townsite) were surveyed in 1910. A new hotel, The Hazzard Hotel, owned by Jack Hazzard, opened in the summer of 1914, becoming the biggest building in the park. Credit: Parks Canada
Visitors on horseback by Bertha Lake
The construction of Waterton's first two trails was completed in 1913: Waterton Lakeshore (as far as the international boundary) and Bertha Lake (pictured). Credit: Parks Canada
The Gertrude steam boat docked in Emerald Bay
'Gertrude' steam paddle wheeler is docked in Emerald Bay. The boat had originally been used as a work boat for a sawmill at the mouth of the Lower Waterton Lake. It served as a passenger boat, was tied in Emerald Bay for use as a tea house and then sunk in the bay where it remains. It is now a popular scuba-diving attraction. Credit: Parks Canada / Harwood Collection"
Visitors stand looking out from Akamina Parkway
Construction began on the lower portion of the Akamina Parkway (from the townsite to the Crandell Lake trailhead) in 1921. Work finished in 1927 when the highway opened to Cameron Lake. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-3490-44
Tents and cars in the Townsite Campground
Townsite Campground was created in 1924. It would become one of the oldest surviving campgrounds in the National Park system. Credit: Parks Canada
People on horseback outside the Waterton Dance Pavilion
The Waterton Dance Pavilion, the largest dance hall in western Canada, was built in 1926 and drew crowds from across southern Alberta. Credit: Parks Canada
The Prince of Wales hotel
The Prince of Wales Hotel opened on July 25, 1927. Credit: Parks Canada
The M.V. International boat in Middle Waterton Lake
A 250-passenger boat, 'M.V. International', was built in 1927 and a year later began operating on the Upper Waterton Lake. Credit: Glenbow Archives NB-32-14
The RCMP barracks in Waterton townsite
The RCMP barracks was built during the winter of 1927-28.
Visitors look over the Waterton townsite from the top of the Bear's Hump trail
In 1931, the resident Waterton townsite population increased to about 300. Facilities included: 2 hotels (Prince of Wales Hotel and the Waterton Lake Hotel), 4 rooming houses, 125 cottages, a drugstore, 2 butcher shops, 5 restaurants, 2 churches, a dance hall, police barracks, swimming pool, school house and 14 government buildings.
A crowd gathers outside the Prince of Wales hotel
The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP) is established by legislation and dedicated on June 18, 1932 at Glacier Park Hotel (now Glacier Park Lodge) in the U.S. The Waterton portion of the WGIPP was dedicated at the Prince of Wales Hotel in July 1936. Credit: Parks Canada / Woslyng Collection
A man sightseeing from the back of a motor car in the early 1930s
Until the 1930s, access to the Red Rock Valley was primarily by a wagon road called Pass Creek Road, originally built as a route into the Akamina Valley (via Crandell Lake) for those searching for oil. It was not until 1931 that improvements were made to the Red Rock Parkway. This image is from the 1930s and the early days of automobile travel in the Mountain Parks. The road was, and still is, a prime location to spot wildlife. Credit: Parks Canada / Harwood Collection
Cars heading into Canada wait at Chief Mountain border crossing
The Chief Mountain Highway officially opened in 1936.
A car and some bison in the Waterton Bison Paddock
Six prairie bison were shipped from Elk Island National Park to Waterton Lakes National Park in 1952. They were put in a paddock area completed the previous year.
Visitors enjoying Waterton's outdoor swimming pool
In 1960, an Olympic-size pool was built in the centre of the townsite, replacing supervised swimming and facilities at Linnet Lake. It operated until 1993. In its place, a new lodge-complex was built which included a small indoor swimming pool open to the public. Credit: University of Lethbridge Digitized Collections / Dr. Robert Lampard Postcard Collection
One of the roads in Waterton townsite under flood water
From June 7 to 9, 1964, an extremely high flood occurred, which closed the park for a short time and caused extensive damage to the townsite as well as other areas of the park.
A tent and campers at the newly opened Crandell Mountain campground
In 1965, Crandell Mountain Campground opened, replacing Red Rock Campground. The new campground had a more modern feel, with running water and flush toilets.
Dignitaries cut a ribbon to open the International Peace Park Pavilion
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the Peace Park Pavilion officially opened in 1982. Credit: Parks Canada / WNHA Collection
Smoke from the Sofa Mountain Wildfire can be seen from the Waterton townsite
On September 2, 1998, a large wildfire erupted along the flanks of Sofa Mountain. The fire burned 1,521 hectares within the park and timber limit, with minimal damage. Credit: Parks Canada
Red skies and smoke from the Kenow Wildfire sit over the Waterton townsite
The Kenow Wildfire firmly established itself in Waterton Lakes National Park on September 11, 2017, moving northeast down the Cameron Valley along the Akamina Parkway. In total, 19,303 hectares (38%) of the park burned.

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