Since 2009 the Archaeological Society of Alberta – Calgary Centre (ASA-CC) has been working in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.
The park is the site of an important sandstone quarry which operated from 1907 to 1912 and provided stone for the Alberta Legislature Building and Government House in Edmonton. This sandstone also built several Calgary landmarks, such as Courthouse No. 2 and the Normal School (now known as McDougall Centre). After the demise of the quarry and associated settlement, the land was part of a privately owned ranch and was eventually donated to the province and designated as Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.
Near Glenbow Quarry are domestic spaces such as the Workers’ Quarters, where the managers and single men lived, and Glenbow Village, where the married men and their families resided. Other areas associated with this industrial and residential development include the railway station, school site, and the General Store / Post Office. The brief lifespan of Glenbow, from 1907 to 1927, and the lack of subsequent development, ensured a well-preserved archaeological record.
Volunteers from the ASA-CC have been surveying, mapping and excavating at Glenbow for years, as we work to preserve the history of the Glenbow Town and Quarry. There is still much to do. Would you like to join us? Excavations will be running Monday to Thursday in May and June (excl. Victoria Day).
Become a volunteer and support us by buying a membership today! Email info@arkycalgary.com if you have questions.
ASA members have special access to this restricted site when volunteering with our project. All archaeological resources in Alberta are protected by law and violators could face a $50,000 fine or a year in jail.