Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House National Historic Site of Canada
Jasper, Alberta
The chalet and guest house
© Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Address :
Maligne Lake Road, Jasper, Alberta
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
2014-09-30
Dates:
-
1927 to 1941
(Construction)
Other Name(s):
-
Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House
(Designation Name)
Research Report Number:
2012-16
Plaque(s)
In 1927, renowned guide and outfitter Fred Brewster, with the support of the Canadian National Railway, began construction of these rustic buildings at one of Jasper’s most scenic sites. His camp provided comfortable backcountry tourist accommodations at a time when access to such remote settings was by foot or horseback, and it illustrates the role that guides and outfitters had in the park’s development. With their peeled log construction, these buildings are typical of interwar architecture in the Rocky Mountain parks, and were designed to foster authentic wilderness experiences as an escape from bustling modern life.
Commemorative Intent
The Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House was designated a national historic site because:
built by well-known Jasper outfitter and guide Fred Brewster with the support of the Canadian National Railways, the chalet and guest house represent the prominent role played by outfitters, guides and the competing interests of railways in the development of the national parks; the rustic design of these two buildings, with their peeled log construction, hip roofs and exposed log detailing, reflect a dominant architectural trend within the mountain parks and the selection of this style illustrates an attempt to encourage and reinforce a tourist experience in remote settings where access was by foot or by horseback; constructed in 1927-1941 and 1935, these buildings are what remain of an early lodge complex that was once surrounded by tents and sleeping cabins, and speak to the role of backcountry lodges as a popular form of accommodation for tourists seeking authentic wilderness experiences in the Rocky Mountains.
Source: HSMBC, Minutes, July 2012.