Fort Edmonton stood on what is now the Alberta Legislature grounds for over 80 years
The Alberta Legislature grounds are full of history, including the fact that Fort Edmonton once operated on the land long before the birth of the country, let alone the province.
The Alberta Legislature Building stands within more than 57 acres of parkland, and next time you visit, take a stroll down to the south lawn of the grounds, where you will find a marker for where Fort Edmonton once stood for more than eight decades.
Long before the Alberta Legislature grounds and Fort Edmonton ever existed, archaeological evidence suggests that this area along the North Saskatchewan River was an important meeting and seasonal dwelling place for Indigenous peoples dating back more than 10,000 years. It was a key river crossing and intersection point for major Prairie trails. The forests to the north were rich with fur-bearing animals such as beaver, lynx, and marten, while the south sustained vast herds of plains bison.
The wildlife and trade opportunities with western First Nations brought the first European traders to the area. The Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company built a series of forts along the North Saskatchewan River in the region starting in 1795. In 1802, Fort Edmonton moved to the Rossdale Flats, just east of the present-day Legislature. By 1830, age and damage from repeated flooding made a new building necessary. A new fort was constructed high on the bank of what is now the south Legislature grounds. It remained on-site for 85 years as the fifth and final Fort Edmonton location.
The current monument on the Legislature grounds marks the site of the northeast bastion of the former fort.
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
According to the Alberta Legislature website, the area was also allegedly known for its wildlife. Accounts from the inhabitants of Fort Edmonton in the 19th century report that the pitted hillside around the legislature was home to thousands of garter snakes.
Excavation for the Alberta Legislature began in August 1907, next to the remains of the old Fort Edmonton, on land purchased for $4,000 an acre from the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Provincial Archives of Alberta, Photo A8142
The Provincial Archives of Alberta notes that, though the legislators had already moved in late the year before, the Legislature’s official opening was on Sept. 3, 1912.
Did you know the final Fort Edmonton stood on what is now the Alberta Legislature grounds? Let us know in the comments.