11 vintage photos of Calgary in the 1890s

Dec 19 2017, 11:18 am

If you’ve ever wanted to get a glimpse at what life in Calgary was like over a century, now is your chance. Lougheed House‘s exhibit, “Herein We Dwell: Unexpected Images of Calgary in the 1890s,” gives us a rare look back in time at what our city and its population of 4,000 at the time were like.

The exhibit commemorates the 125th anniversary of the construction of Lougheed House in 1891 and was curated by Peter Duthie, founder of Folio Gallery and former chair of the Exposure Photography Festival.

Built in 1891 in Victorian Eclectic style for Sir James Lougheed and his family, Lougheed House was a home that hosted royalty and forged connections. The 14,000 square foot sandstone prairie mansion sits on 2.8-acres in Calgary’s Beltline community and is now a National and Provincial Historic Site and Museum run by the Lougheed House Conservation Society.

Herein We Dwell exhibit

When: Running until May 29

Where: Lougheed House – 707-13th Avenue SW

Hours: Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 403-244-6333

Mid-winter lawn tennis match, northeast corner of 4th Ave S and Centre St - January 23, 1982 / Image: NA-18-2 / Glenbow Archives

Mid-winter lawn tennis match, northeast corner of 4th Ave S and Centre St – January 23, 1892 / Image: NA-18-2 / Glenbow Archives

American settlers looking for a home on Stephen Avenue / Image: NA-1126-2 / Glenbow Archives

American settlers looking for a home on Stephen Avenue / Image: NA-1126-2 / Glenbow Archives

View of Bow River looking west - August 1893 / Image: NA-1172-2 / Glenbow Archives

View of Bow River looking west – August 1893 / Image: NA-1172-2 / Glenbow Archives

Citizens on Stephen Avenue - January 23, 1892 / Image: NA-1702-7 / Glenbow Archives

Citizens on Stephen Avenue – January 23, 1892 / Image: NA-1702-7 / Glenbow Archives

First Nations camp on Elbow River / Image: NA-1753-50 / Glenbow Archives

First Nations camp on Elbow River / Image: NA-1753-50 / Glenbow Archives

Chinese gathering in Calgary / Image: NA-2622-31 / Glenbow Archives

Chinese gathering in Calgary / Image: NA-2622-31 / Glenbow Archives

"Beaulieu" residence of Senator James Lougheed / Image: NA-4441-2 / Glenbow Archives

“Beaulieu” residence of Senator James Lougheed / Image: NA-4441-2 / Glenbow Archives

George Murdoch's log shack - September 3-4, 1883 / Image: NA-1728-1 / Glenbow Archives

George Murdoch’s log shack – September 3-4, 1883 / Image: NA-1728-1 / Glenbow Archives

Nurses at old General Hospital / Image: NA-4938-11 / Glenbow Archives

Nurses at old General Hospital / Image: NA-4938-11 / Glenbow Archives

George Barclay Bruce family on Christmas Day - December 25, 1893 / Image: NC-22-70 / Glenbow Archives

George Barclay Bruce family on Christmas Day – December 25, 1893 / Image: NC-22-70 / Glenbow Archives

Mrs. George Barclay Bruce and daughters on Christmas - December 25, 1893 / Image: NC-22-69 / Glenbow Archives

Mrs. George Barclay Bruce and daughters on Christmas – December 25, 1893 / Image: NC-22-69 / Glenbow Archives

DH Calgary StaffDH Calgary Staff

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