Jasper Avenue in 1913 shows the city's booming growth prior to the First World War. |
Edmonton’s historical roots date back to 1795 when the Hudson’s Bay Company trading post - known as “Edmonton House” - was established near the present site of Fort Saskatchewan. Trading began with the Cree and Blackfoot Indians for animal pelts, and by 1826 Fort Edmonton was poised to become the major distribution centre for the western prairies. It was also the main stopping point to Canada’s North and the Pacific coast.
In 1871, settlement began outside Fort Edmonton (on the site of the present Alberta Legislature grounds) as land became available to purchase. In 1892 Edmonton was incorporated as a town with a population of 700. One hundred years later the centennial anniversary of the town’s incorporation was marked with the opening of Edmonton’s distinctive new City Hall.
The gold rush of 1898 put Edmonton on the map. Enticed by the promise of gold found in the Klondike, some two thousand prospectors set off for the Yukon via the “Back Door” or “All Canadian Route.” Though the West Coast routes attracted the majority of prospectors, its perilous mountain trails led many others to believe the route through Edmonton would be less arduous. The “All Canadian Route” claimed its share of casualties and prompted many travelers to turn back. Edmonton’s role as an outfitting centre and the publicity generated by the gold rush made this a period of tremendous growth; Edmonton’s population doubled in just over two years and its economy and reputation boomed.
In 1903 Alberta College opened its doors to become the province’s first post-secondary educational institution. By 1904 the city of Edmonton was incorporated with a population of 8,350.
The neighbouring town of Strathcona amalgamated with Edmonton in 1912. |
In 1905, when Alberta entered Confederation, the rivalry with Calgary began as the two cities jockeyed to be named provincial capital. Despite Calgary’s growing economy, Edmonton was ultimately selected as the capital city and construction began on the Alberta Legislature Building. In 1909, Governor General Earl Grey laid the first cornerstone and four years later the majestic sandstone building opened its doors.
Edmonton’s status as capital city also paved the way for the University of Alberta. Established in 1908 with eight professors and 45 students, the first classes were held at Strathcona Public School. By 1928, the University had its own campus with six buildings and over 1,600 students.
Edmonton and the neighbouring town of Strathcona amalgamated in 1912, swelling the population to 53,611 residents. Construction of the Alberta Legislature Building, started four years earlier, was completed and the building became a major source of pride for residents, symbolizing the ability of the small frontier community to compete with much larger centres.
Before the airplane, paddleboats were a popular mode of transport. |
Construction of the High Level trestle bridge was completed in 1913. One of the four largest bridges in Canada at the time, it was an engineering marvel. It required 100,000 bags of cement, 8.5 tons of steel and 1.4 million rivets to complete. When finished, the bridge spanned the North Saskatchewan River, allowing passenger vehicles and pedestrians to travel on the lower deck while trains and streetcars passed above.
In the 1930s Edmonton established its reputation as an aviation centre by becoming the hub of transportation for medical supplies, food and mail to northern communities. It was during this time that the city earned the title “Gateway to the North.”
A key year in the city’s history was 1942, when construction of the Alaska Highway solidified Edmonton’s role as a major transportation and supply centre. On September 23, 1943, Edmonton’s airport set a North American record as 860 planes passed through Blatchford Field, today’s City Centre Airport.
Take a ride on a steam engine at Fort Edmonton Park. |
In 1947 the discovery of oil in nearby Leduc transformed Edmonton into the Oil Capital of Canada, virtually overnight. Ironically, after spending $12 million on more than 130 dry holes, Imperial Oil had almost abandoned hope of finding oil in the area and was ready to cap the Leduc #1 well. But on February 13, toolpusher Vern “Dry Hole” Hunter, so nicknamed for the number of unsuccessful wells he’d worked on, ordered the crew to drill down another five feet. The historic strike marked the birth of western Canada’s oil industry and ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity and growth. Within a decade, Edmonton’s population more than doubled and today the oil and gas industry remains the city’s economic cornerstone.
The 1960s marked a period of great growth. The $25 million Edmonton International Airport opened for commercial flights and subsequent years saw the towns of Beverly and Jasper Place annexed to the city. In 1964 lawyer Joe Shoctor opened Edmonton’s first professional live theatre, the Citadel, and in 1966 the first skyscraper, the 27-storey CN tower, was built. One year later another world class attraction, the Provincial Museum of Alberta, opened to celebrate Canada’s centennial.
Step back in time at Fort Edmonton Park, Canada's largest living history museum. |
The ‘70s continued the growth trend. Northlands Coliseum (now Skyreach Centre) opened, later earning the reputation as the best ice surface in the NHL. Edmonton also became the smallest city with an underground rail system in 1978 when the streetcars that once teetered across the High Level Bridge gave way to the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. That same year, Edmonton hosted the Commonwealth Games, attracting athletes from 46 countries.
In 1981, West Edmonton Mall opened its doors. With the addition of Phase III in 1985, it became the world’s largest shopping centre. Edmonton was also the focus of international attention in 1983 when the city hosted the World University Games.
By Edmonton’s bicentennial in 1995, the city was worlds away from its humble beginnings as a mercantile centre during the fur trade and the Klondike Gold Rush. From being a town travelers passed through on the way to somewhere else, Edmonton has become a destination.
Edmonton Takes Flight: Canada’s
Early Aviation History
Celebrating Edmonton’s unique history in the air age, the Alberta Aviation Museum is located where most of it began - on the site of the current City Centre Airport.
An airport has been there since 1920 when Jock McNeil tried to start an air-taxi service to Calgary using an open biplane with an engine lubricated by castor oil. In 1926, the City of Edmonton invested $600 to bring the field up to licensing standards and created the first municipal airport in Canada.
In the 1930s, bush fliers made the field the “Gateway to the North” and in 1939 Trans-Canada Airlines built its own hangar and instituted scheduled passenger service, 10 passengers at a time.
The airport boomed during the Second World War. The RCAF’s Air Observer School produced more than 3,000 navigators for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. During the same period, 8,000 American combat planes landed at the airport, passing through on their way to Russia. In the 1950s, when the Cold War made the Soviet Union a potential enemy, the airport became a base camp for radar warning systems in the Arctic.
On your way to the Alberta Aviation Museum, you’ll drive on an important piece of aviation history, Kingsway.
In 1931 and 1933, when round-the-world flier Wiley Post came through, the airport had no paved runways - so Post simply took off from Kingsway Avenue!
