Description of Historic Place

The Museum of Natural History, also known as Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada or simply the Banff Museum, is a log building of impressive size clearly intended as a showpiece for Banff National Park of Canada. At two storeys high, it has a distinctive shape composed of crossed-log facades with protruding shingled bays at the mezzanine level and a layering of shingled roof surfaces moving from the wide bracketed verandah eaves to the hip roof to the large central lantern. On the interior, the lantern provides natural light to both the mezzanine gallery and the ground floor. The interior is finished throughout in wood. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Museum of Natural History is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, as well as its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
The Banff Natural History Museum opened in 1895 and moved to the present building in 1903. This building is the oldest surviving building in the town of Banff, and, more significantly, the oldest surviving building constructed by the federal government for the Rocky Mountains Park (now Banff National Park of Canada), Canada's first national park.

Architectural Value
The 1903 museum building was the largest and most elaborate product of the early phase of park design to use decorative log construction. The two-storey, wood-frame building was designed in a rustic, Swiss style of architecture, distinguished by its crossed-log wall pattern executed in British Colombia fir. It displays unique approaches to the functional requirements of museum design of the period. The high quality of materials and craftsmanship throughout indicate that the building was clearly intended as a showpiece for the park.

Environmental Value
The distinctive appearance of the museum has always made it a local landmark, and its style and setting contribute strongly to the period character of the town. Furthermore, its prime location and important function reflect the aim of early parks officials to give a consistent architectural image to the Park.

Sources: Ted Mills & Janet Wright, The Banff Museum, Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta, Federal Heritage Review Office, Building Report 85-010; The Banff Museum, Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement 85-010.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Museum of Natural History should be respected.

Its good aesthetic and very good functional design, and good craftsmanship and materials, as illustrated in: the exterior façades and setting, and the publicly accessible areas of the interior; the distinctive shape of the exterior, with a layering of shingled roof surfaces moving from the wide bracketed veranda eaves to the hip roof to the large central lantern; the walls of crossed-log veneer with protruding shingled bays at the mezzanine level; the interior lantern, which provides natural light to both the mezzanine gallery and the ground floor; the wood finish, trim and detailing, including display cases and other furnishings, which are, for the most part original to the building.

The manner in which the Museum contributes to with the picturesque character of Banff National Park of Canada as evidenced in: its importance as the oldest surviving building in the town of Banff and as the oldest surviving building constructed by the federal government for the Rocky Mountains Park (now Banff National Park of Canada), Canada's first national park; its style and setting, and its importance as a local landmark, which contribute strongly to the period character of the town; its importance as a showpiece for Banff National Park of Canada.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Museum of Natural History was built in 1902-03 by the Department of the Interior to the designs of John Stocks, the Assistant Chief Engineer for the Department of Public Works in the Northwest Territories. It is the property of Environment Canada. In 1985 it was declared a national historic site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. See FHBRO Building Report 85-10.

Reason for Designation

On June 10, 1986 the building was designated Classified because of its excellent design and craftsmanship and because of its importance to its environment.

The Museum of Natural History was the child of the old Natural History Branch of the Geological Survey of Canada. Opened in 1895, the museum moved to the present building in 1903. It is the oldest surviving building in the town of Banff, and, more significantly, the oldest surviving building constructed in the federal government for the Rocky Mountains Park (now Banff National Park), Canada's first national park.

The 1903 museum building was the largest and most elaborate product of the early phase of park design utilizing decorative log construction. It displays unique approaches to the functional requirements of museum design of the period. The high quality of materials and craftsmanship throughout indicate that the building was clearly intended as a showpiece for the park.

Its distinctive appearance has always made it a local landmark, and its style and setting contribute strongly to the period character of the town.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the property is defined by the exterior elevations and setting, and by the publicly-accessible areas of the interior.

The exterior is of distinctive shape, with a layering of shingled roof surfaces moving from the wide bracketed verandah eaves to the hip roof to the large central lantern. The walls are of crossed-log veneer with protruding shingled bays at the mezzanine level. It is important that all exterior materials and detailing be meticulously preserved.

On the interior, the lantern provides natural light to both the mezzanine gallery and the
ground floor. The wood finish, trim and detailing, including display cases and other furnishings, are for the most part original to the building; recent restoration work has allowed the recovery of some elements and the sympathetic insertion of new work. All publicly-accessible areas should be carefully maintained in their present status.

The landscape setting for the building has been modified over time in response to the demands of heavy use; the evolution of the property requires more detailed study with
a view to ensuring that the development and treatment of the grounds, in particular
circulation, grades, and plant materials, is in keeping with the historical significance of the building itself.