• Home
  • About
    • Work with Tazim Damji
  • Contact
  • Destinations
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver
    • Québec
    • Alberta
  • Travel Planning
  • Diverse Cultures
  • Adventure
  • Vegan Travel
  • Video
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

Celebrate Life's Adventures!

Diverse Cultural Experiences and Canadian Travel.

Have More Joy and Challenge your Imagination at Heritage Park, Calgary

September 21, 2019 by Tazim Leave a Comment

Spread the love

Getting outside and experiencing a heritage village is way more fun than reading about history in a textbook, am I right? Heritage Park in Calgary is a step back in time in Canada’s largest living history museum.

Experience the joy of discovering how people lived way back when as you explore 1860 all the way to 1950. Unlike other museums where you walk through an exhibit and look at objects behind glass, Heritage Park is interactive, with costumed interpreters, historic buildings to peak into and wander around in, and working antiques to touch, smell, taste, hear and see.

Heritage Park Calgary Actors in costume

The Park is set-up in four main areas:

Table of Contents

  • The Park is set-up in four main areas:
  • Can’t Miss Attractions at Heritage Park, Calgary
  • Find Joy Wandering in these Heritage Buildings
  •  Frequently Asked Questions: 
  • Heritage Town Square: This is located before the admission gates, which means it is free to enjoy. There are a few restaurants and cafes, little shops with all kinds of fun things to check out and a 2-acre nature park to enjoy. You can also step inside to Gasoline Alley Museum, home to one of the world’s largest public collections of antique trucks, cars and gas pumps from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.
  • The 1900s Living Historical Village: This main area is open between May and October. The village is home to many of the exhibits including an antique midway with lots of rides, steam train, a working printing press and blacksmith shop, ice cream parlour, a very popular bakery, and costumed interpreters.
  • The 1880s Pre-Railway Settlement: Also open May to October, experience the homes, businesses, and lifestyles of the first new settlers to Canada’s West.
  • 1860s Fur Trading Fort and First Nations Encampment: Also open May to October. First Nations, Métis, explorers, settlers, and traders, as well as others who travelled through Western Canada, are represented in this area of the park.
Old fashioned swing set
Heritage Park Calgary Street

Can’t Miss Attractions at Heritage Park, Calgary

  1. Steam Ship
    The S.S. Moyie was used on Kootenay Lake, B.C. to ferry passengers between small settlements and towns between 1898 to 1957 making it North America’s oldest sternwheeler still in service. When it was retired, it was made into a museum and placed in Kaslo, B.C. I’ve been to Kaslo and had the pleasure of taking a look at the original ship in person. THIS steamship is actually a diesel-running half-size replica of the original S.S. Moyie.
  2. Authentic Steam Train
    You can ride on a steam train and imagine yourself riding on one between 1882 and 1949. Take the train between different stops in Heritage Park to save your energy as there is a lot of walking involved here! If you have a stroller or wheelchair, you will unfortunately not be able to bring them on the train.
  3. Old-timey Amusement Park Rides
    Included with admission is access to many popular antique midway rides, like a Ferris wheel (one for children only), carousel, swings, bumper cars, and others.
View this post on Instagram

Saturday in the Park! #heritageparkyyc #escapetoday

A post shared by Heritage Park YYC (@heritageparkyyc) on Aug 17, 2019 at 3:58pm PDT

Bow River
Bow River
Bow River
Bow River

Find Joy Wandering in these Heritage Buildings

There are plenty of historic buildings to wander into, which will allow you to use your imagination to picture yourself living your life there. For instance, stand in line at the bakery while you wait to order delicious bread and pastries. A visit to the bakery is always a highlight of a visit to Heritage Park.

The Wainwright Hotel is also one of my favourite places to stop in. I like pretending that I am visiting the village and staying in one of the little rooms upstairs. There are also houses, a school, a post office, and other buildings to either look into or be able to walk around in. So much scope for the imagination!

Heritage Park Calgary Street
One of the main streets in Heritage Park with the Wainwright hotel, Gledhill’s Drug Store, a candy shop, and an ice cream parlour.
Heritage Home

 Frequently Asked Questions: 

Where is Heritage Park located in Calgary?

1900 Heritage Dr. S.W.

How do you get to Heritage Park?

Located about a 20-minute drive from downtown Calgary, there is plenty of parking onsite. If you are using public transportation, a shuttle bus is available from the Heritage LRT Station. Please visit Calgary Transit to view the shuttle schedule.

Who owns Heritage Park?

The Heritage Park Society is a charitable organization, with direction provided by a volunteer board of directors.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Gasoline Alley Museum and Heritage Town Square are fully accessible by wheelchairs. The main Historical Village isn’t very wheelchair friendly, but there are certain buildings (marked with a wheelchair symbol on the outside) that can be accessed.

When is Heritage Park open?

Please refer to the official website’s hours of operation for the most up-to-date information.

Who should visit:
history enthusiasts, photography fanatics, and those who are young or young at heart.
Have More Joy and Challenge your Imagination at Heritage Park, Calgary - picture of antique swing in a midway

I think you’ll agree that a day spent at Heritage Park, Calgary is a great way to spend time for the whole family. You can bring your own food and have a picnic, enjoy ice cream and baked items from the shops, or eat at the many cafes and restaurants located in Heritage Town Square.

About Tazim

Tazim is the editor/creator behind BeingTazim.com (an 8 years+ lifestyle blog) and is head adventurer at Celebrating Life's Adventures!

Celebrate Life's Adventures is for environmentally and socially conscious travellers who enjoy diverse cultural experiences, being one with nature, and a slower pace of life.

Tazim has created a life full of adventures big and small. Having travelled to 14 countries and lived in four, she knows a thing or two about different cultures, food, and ways to experience and appreciate the world.

Vancouver Staycation Guide
Insider’s Guide to Whistler’s 2019/20 Season

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Celebrate Life’s Adventures is for environmentally and socially conscious travellers who enjoy diverse cultural experiences, being one with nature, and a slower pace of life.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Hello! :)

Tazim is the editor/creator behind BeingTazim.com (an 8 years+ lifestyle blog) and is head adventurer at Celebrating Life's Adventures!

Celebrate Life's Adventures is for environmentally and socially conscious travellers who enjoy diverse cultural experiences, being one with nature, and a slower pace of life.

Tazim has created a life full of adventures big and small. Having travelled to 14 countries and lived in four, she knows a thing or two about different cultures, food, and ways to experience and appreciate the world.

Privacy Policy

Work with Tazim Damji

 

Recent Posts

  • 4 Undeniable Reasons to Love Vacation Rentals
  • HOW TO SPEND MORE TIME TRAVELLING
  • How to Travel Through Australia for the Best Experience
  • An Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide to Melbourne
  • What is Vancouver, Canada Best Known For?

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Québec Canada

Featured in

flight network blogging excellence daily hive

The Network Niche

© 2023 · Pretty Creative WordPress Theme by, Pretty Darn Cute Design