National Historic Sites
The National Historic Sites component of Parks Canada is responsible for Canada's program of historical commemoration, which recognizes nationally significant places, persons and events. All such designations are made by the Minister of Canadian Heritage on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
National Historic Sites
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site of Canada
Built in 1922, this sturdy shelter is a unique and enduring monument to the Swiss guides, who first came to the Rocky Mountains in 1899 under the auspices of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was patterned on examples in the Swiss Alps. All materials, apart from the stone, were carried by pack horses past the Lower Victoria Glacier, then by the guides to the pass summit. Never again was such an arduous feat undertaken in the national parks. The shelter has served as a high-altitude base for generations of climbers, here in the cradle of Canadian mountaineering.
The cabin is located on the Continental Divide between Banff and Yoho National Parks in a col known as Abbot Pass. It is located at an altitude of 2,925 metres (9,598 feet) and about 1,372 metres (4,500 feet) above Lake Louise. Abbot Pass was named in honour of Philip Stanley Abbot, who became the first mountaineering fatality in the Canadian Rockies when he fell to his death in 1896 while attempting to climb Mount Lefroy.
Howse Pass National Historic Site of Canada
This pass, which links the North Saskatchewan and Columbia river systems, was known to the Indians of the area long before the arrival of the Europeans. It was probably used from the 18th century onwards by Kootenay Indians to gain access to the buffalo herds on the plains east of the mountains. In 1807, David Thompson and a North West Company party traversed the pass which was used by the Canadian fur traders until 1810 to explore and establish posts west of the Rockies. Joseph Howse, the Hudson's Bay Company employee after whom the pass is named, first crossed in 1809.
Howse Pass is located on the border between British Columbia and Alberta. The pass can be reached by hiking 26 km west from the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North).
Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site of Canada
First recorded in the report of the Palliser expedition of 1857-60, this pass takes its name from an incident in which Dr. James Hector, surgeon to the expedition, was kicked by his horse while exploring in this vicinity. The pass was virtually unused until after 1881 when the Canadian Pacific Railway decided to adopt it as their new route through the Rockies, foregoing the earlier preference for the more northerly Yellowhead Pass. This decision altered the location of the line across western Canada and dramatically affected the development of the West.
The Trans-Canada Highway travels through the summit of Kicking Horse Pass at the boundary of Yoho and Banff National Parks. Visit Spiral Tunnels viewpoint in Yoho National Park to learn more about the history of Kicking Horse Pass.
Skoki Ski Lodge National Historic Site of Canada
A rare and little-changed link with the early days of ski tourism, Skoki Ski Lodge is a fine example of the log building traditions long associated with the Banff region. When it opened for business in 1931, skiing was just emerging as a major form of winter recreation across Canada. Skoki Ski Lodge was built as a destination for backcountry holidays by a group of ski enthusiasts, using timbers cut in the vicinity. It was the first such facility to operate on a commercial basis in Canada. It assumed its current appearance with additions carried out in 1935-1936. The lodge is located in the backcountry of Banff National Park.
Twin Falls Tea House National Historic Site of Canada
This charming tea house is a well-preserved example of rustic design in Canada's national parks. The Canadian Pacific Railway constructed the building in stages, beginning around 1908 with a one-storey cabin for patrons taking backcountry tours. In 1923-1924, the company added a two-storey structure to create a larger and more attractive chalet. Skilfully crafted, the enormous logs create the building's rustic character. The chalet remains a vivid reminder of the early days of hiking, mountaineering and trail riding in the national parks.
Twin Falls Chalet is located in the Yoho River Valley in Yoho National Park and can be reached by hiking 8.5 km from the Takakkaw Falls parking lot.
People of National Historic Significance
Edouard Gaston Deville 1849-1924
Born in France, Deville served as a hydrographer with the French Navy before coming to Canada in 1874. He took part in the Dominion survey of the newly acquired NorthWest Territories, becoming Inspector of Surveys for Canada in 1881 and Surveyor General in 1885. A pioneer in the new science of photogrammetry, he introduced the technique to the mapping of the Canadian Rockies between 1888 and 1896. He gained an international reputation as author, designer of equipment for photogrammetric mapping, and improver of map reproduction techniques. Mount Deville in Yoho National Park bears his name. He died in Ottawa.
The E.G. Deville commemorative plaque is located in Yoho National Park near the entrance to Monarch Campground.
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