Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada

More information

 
© Parks Canada

Nestled in the foothills of southern Alberta with the majestic Rocky Mountains as the backdrop, the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site is one of the jewels in Parks Canada's crown. Our vision: to commemorate the evolution of the Canadian ranching industry and the contribution of the industry to the development of Canada.

At a Glance

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.
© Parks Canada

Throughout the Bar U Ranch's history there have been many colourful characters such as John Ware, the Sundance Kid, H.R.H. Edward Prince of Wales and two of the big four who founded the first ever Calgary Exhibition and Stampede - George Lane and Patrick Burns.

What is the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site?

This national historic site uses a living history approach to present one of Canada's most vital industries - the ranching industry.

Bar U Ranch in winter.
© Parks Canada

The Bar U Ranch was one of a small group of very large coporate ranches in western Canada. Established in 1882, it was one of the foremost ranching operations in Canada. Key personalities included Fred Stimson, George Lane and Patrick Burns. Fred Stimson set out the foundation and infrastructure for the Bar U Ranch, which under George Lane achieved international repute as a centre of breeding excellence for cattle and purebred Percheron horses. Patrick Burns and his company modernized the ranch by replacing horses with tractors.

Recognizing that the Bar U's long history provided an excellent opportunity to commemorate Canada's ranching industry, Parks Canada acquired 148.43 hectares (367 acres), including the ranch's headquarters area, in 1991.

The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site will preserve a spirit of time and place by presenting a vibrant, living historic ranch with daily activities, group educational/adventure and incentive tours, and scheduled special events.