Take a look back at Waterton's history in photos, capturing some of the key moments in the park's colourful past.
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The official document stating that, by Order in Council, a 140 sq/km area around the Waterton lakes was protected as the 'Kootenay Lakes Forest Park Reserve'. Credit: Parks Canada / WNHA Collection
Kootenay Lakes (or Waterton Lakes) Forest Park Reserve, circa 1890. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-430-28
First oil strike occurs on September 21, 1902, producing a flow of 300 barrels per day of high-grade oil at 'Original Discovery No.1' well site in the Akamina Valley. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-1585-7
The Warden Service was created in 1908 and became the official organisation for managing national parks, the first of its kind. Pictured is the Waterton Lakes National Park Warden staff in the 1930s. L-R: Jack Giddie; J. C. 'Bo' Holroyd; L. 'Mac' MacAllister; Bert Barnes. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-4071-2
Long-time Waterton resident John George 'Kootenai' Brown was appointed as Waterton Lakes Forest Park Ranger in 1910. Here he is pictured with U.S. Ranger Albert 'Death-on-the-Trail' Reynolds. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-138-3
The first lots in Waterton Park (townsite) were surveyed in 1910. A new hotel, The Hazzard Hotel, owned by Jack Hazzard, opened in the summer of 1914, becoming the biggest building in the park. Credit: Parks Canada
The construction of Waterton's first two trails was completed in 1913: Waterton Lakeshore (as far as the international boundary) and Bertha Lake (pictured). Credit: Parks Canada
'Gertrude' steam paddle wheeler is docked in Emerald Bay. The boat had originally been used as a work boat for a sawmill at the mouth of the Lower Waterton Lake. It served as a passenger boat, was tied in Emerald Bay for use as a tea house and then sunk in the bay where it remains. It is now a popular scuba-diving attraction. Credit: Parks Canada / Harwood Collection"
Construction began on the lower portion of the Akamina Parkway (from the townsite to the Crandell Lake trailhead) in 1921. Work finished in 1927 when the highway opened to Cameron Lake. Credit: Glenbow Archives NA-3490-44
Townsite Campground was created in 1924. It would become one of the oldest surviving campgrounds in the National Park system. Credit: Parks Canada
The Waterton Dance Pavilion, the largest dance hall in western Canada, was built in 1926 and drew crowds from across southern Alberta. Credit: Parks Canada
The Prince of Wales Hotel opened on July 25, 1927. Credit: Parks Canada
A 250-passenger boat, 'M.V. International', was built in 1927 and a year later began operating on the Upper Waterton Lake. Credit: Glenbow Archives NB-32-14
The RCMP barracks was built during the winter of 1927-28.
In 1931, the resident Waterton townsite population increased to about 300. Facilities included: 2 hotels (Prince of Wales Hotel and the Waterton Lake Hotel), 4 rooming houses, 125 cottages, a drugstore, 2 butcher shops, 5 restaurants, 2 churches, a dance hall, police barracks, swimming pool, school house and 14 government buildings.
The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP) is established by legislation and dedicated on June 18, 1932 at Glacier Park Hotel (now Glacier Park Lodge) in the U.S. The Waterton portion of the WGIPP was dedicated at the Prince of Wales Hotel in July 1936. Credit: Parks Canada / Woslyng Collection
Until the 1930s, access to the Red Rock Valley was primarily by a wagon road called Pass Creek Road, originally built as a route into the Akamina Valley (via Crandell Lake) for those searching for oil. It was not until 1931 that improvements were made to the Red Rock Parkway. This image is from the 1930s and the early days of automobile travel in the Mountain Parks. The road was, and still is, a prime location to spot wildlife. Credit: Parks Canada / Harwood Collection
The Chief Mountain Highway officially opened in 1936.
Six prairie bison were shipped from Elk Island National Park to Waterton Lakes National Park in 1952. They were put in a paddock area completed the previous year.
In 1960, an Olympic-size pool was built in the centre of the townsite, replacing supervised swimming and facilities at Linnet Lake. It operated until 1993. In its place, a new lodge-complex was built which included a small indoor swimming pool open to the public. Credit: University of Lethbridge Digitized Collections / Dr. Robert Lampard Postcard Collection
From June 7 to 9, 1964, an extremely high flood occurred, which closed the park for a short time and caused extensive damage to the townsite as well as other areas of the park.
In 1965, Crandell Mountain Campground opened, replacing Red Rock Campground. The new campground had a more modern feel, with running water and flush toilets.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the Peace Park Pavilion officially opened in 1982. Credit: Parks Canada / WNHA Collection
On September 2, 1998, a large wildfire erupted along the flanks of Sofa Mountain. The fire burned 1,521 hectares within the park and timber limit, with minimal damage. Credit: Parks Canada
The Kenow Wildfire firmly established itself in Waterton Lakes National Park on September 11, 2017, moving northeast down the Cameron Valley along the Akamina Parkway. In total, 19,303 hectares (38%) of the park burned.
