5 historic photos of Calgary landmarks compared to today
From a small prairie town to a bustling city, Calgary has changed a lot over the years, and it has some historic photos to prove it.
We dug through the archives and found five photos of Calgary and were amazed at how they compare to the city we know and love today.
Calgary Stampede Entrance
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Taken in 1953, this photo showcases the entrance to the Calgary Stampede, fit with some coboys waiting to get in. Since then, not only has Calgary evolved, but the entrance to the Stampede sure looks different.
Here’s a photo of the Calgary Stampede entrance by the BMO Centre in 2025:
vietanh85/Shutterstock
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
The Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium has long been a place for Calgarians to gather and see live music and shows. This photo was taken sometime in 1965, when there was not much around the auditorium.
Here’s what it looked like in 2021:
Google Street View
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Calgary courthouse
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Captured on the corner of 4th Street SW and 6th Avenue SW, this is a photo of the Calgary courthouse, which has since been demolished. Here’s what the grounds look like from the same corner as of June 2024:
Google Street View
The Beacon Hotel
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
The Beacon Hotel, which was located on the corner of Centre Street and 16th Avenue N., was a popular hotel back in its day. It was demolished in the 90’s to make way for the Central Landmark Mall, which still stands there today.
Google Street View
Chinook Drive-In
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
While most people know of Chinook Mall, did you know a drive-in movie theatre used to sit on its land? The Chinook Drive-In opened on May 12, 1949 and was later demolished in September 1958 to make room for the mall, which has since become one of the top shopping locations in Calgary.
oasisamuel/Shutterstock
Are there any historic spots in Calgary you’d like to learn more about? Let us know in the comments below!