ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE
|
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE |
|
|
|
|
NAME: Rocky Mountain
House COUNTY: N/A ROADS: 4WD GRID: 2 CLIMATE: Mild summer,cold winter BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer |
COMMENTS:
Central Alberta REMAINS: The old fort. |
|
Ruins of Rocky Mountain House can be seen along the side of the Saskatchewan
River some 50 miles west of the city of Red Deer on highway 11. It had
a beginning as a fur trading post with the Indians of southern British
Columbia. The post was built by and belonged to the North West Company,
the rival company to the Hudson Bay Company. It was built around the
year 1799 but was never successful as the Indians only came to trade
when they wanted to which was not very often. Consequently, the post
was opened and closed numerous times throughout its existence. The post
was closed for the last time in 1875. With this, a long chapter in the
history of the fur trade closed for good. The Historic Parks Branch of
the federal government has opened a park on the site of the old trading
post. On display are replica of some of the buildings, York boats, and
other paraphernalia of the old fur trading era. H.B. Chenoweth |
|
|