Rocky Mountain House

The North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company both built posts here on the North Saskatchewan in 1799, next to each other, competing for trade with the Piikani and other nations at the edge of the mountains. David Thompson, the surveyor who mapped much of western Canada, used the post as a base and left from here on the journeys that took him across the Rockies to the Pacific. Little stands above ground: chimney mounds, depressions and archaeological outlines, with trails, a visitor centre and interpretive programmes. Bison are kept in a paddock on the site, and Métis and First Nations interpretation runs through the summer.

History

Peter Pangman of the North West Company marked the site in 1790, and in September 1799 Nor'Westers under John McDonald of Garth built Rocky Mountain House while James Bird of the Hudson's Bay Company built Acton House beside it; the westernmost posts on the North Saskatchewan, within sight of the mountains, traded with the Blackfeet, Piegans and Kootenays and made pemmican and York boats. David Thompson set out from here in search of a pass to the Pacific, the companies merged in 1821 under the Rocky Mountain House name, and the post, opened and closed seven times, traded into the 1870s (Wikipedia, Rocky Mountain House).

Highlights

• The post outlines - chimney mounds and depressions where the forts stood.
• The David Thompson connection - the base for his crossings to the Pacific.
• The bison paddock - a small herd kept on the site.
• The river trails - walks along the North Saskatchewan through the grounds.

When to go

May to September for the full programme; the site reduces to trails only in winter. Summer brings demonstrations of trade skills and Métis and First Nations programming.

What to expect

There are no standing fort buildings, only archaeological traces, which disappoints visitors expecting a reconstruction. The interest depends on the interpretation. Winter offers little.

Nearby

Abraham Lake lies west; Red Deer is east.