Established as a children’s pioneer theme park back in 1964, Calgary’s Heritage Park Historical Village has since grown to become Canada's largest living-history museum. Open from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving in October, it features 180 exhibits exploring the settlement of Western Canada from the 1860s to the 1950s. The park is divided into several areas including an antique midway; a fur-trading fort and First Nations encampment; a pre-railway settlement; a 1910 railway town; and Gasoline Alley, which houses thousands of items related to automobile history. "Heritage Park is not a typical museum where you just come and look at things. We want you to taste it, experience it, smell it, touch it,” explains communications specialist Barb Munro, adding that on-site costumed interpreters help history come alive.
Heritage Park is also home to the city’s only boat cruise. Circumnavigating Glenmore Reservoir on an hourly basis, the S.S. Moyie is a replica of a late 19th century paddlewheeler. A vintage steam train, one of Heritage Park's most iconic attractions, also chugs around the park's perimeter moving visitors from one end to the other.
What’s more, Heritage Park offers unique shopping opportunities. Heritage Town Square is located outside the admission gates and features shops carrying goods from vintage toys and antiques to Canadian-made souvenirs.
