Fort Macleod
Fort Macleod was founded in 1874 with the arrival of the North West Mounted Police, led by Colonel James F. Macleod. Fort Macleod was the first permanent police post in the British North-West. By 1884, the North West Mounted Police relocated their quarters to the south bank of the Old Man River, west of the present Town of Fort Macleod.
Canadian Sovereignty was being threatened by the disruptive and unlawful practices of American whiskey traders who were trading deadly "firewater" for buffalo robes, wolf skins, and other items of value. The arrival of the North West Mounted Police put an end to this illicit trade. The town soon followed, becoming a bustling settlement, complete with a boardwalk-lined main street and a variety of commercial interests providing services to the region's ranching industry. Today, you may visit the partially reconstructed NWMP 1884 Barracks Provincial Historic Site.
For more information, please visit www.nwmpmuseum.com
What to Explore:
- Daily NWMP Musical Rides
- Empress Theatre
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Historic Main Street
- NWMP 1884 Barracks Provincial Historic Site