Jasper Tourist Attractions
|
|
When the railroad reached Jasper in 1911, the settlement which grew up on the Athabasca River was initially called Fitzhugh, and this remained its name until it was changed to Jasper in 1913. The Brewster brothers set up a small tent city for tourists on Beauvert Lake, which was replaced by Jasper Park Lodge in 1920. Mountaineers climbed the previously unknown peaks, and outfitters took enterprising tourists to remote regions on horseback.Jasper town site, somewhat less crowded than its sister resort of Banff, has a permanent population of about 3300. It is the tourist center for Jasper Park, with plenty of accommodation, stores, etc.Connaught Drive is Jasper's main street. The Canada Parks offices are opposite the station where, from late summer onwards, long goods trains, often numbering more than a hundred freight cars, laden with grain from the prairies, are assembled in the vast marshalling yards before going on to Vancouver through Yellowhead Pass.
Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper Park Lodge, about 7 km (41/2 mi.) east of Jasper town site is in a beautiful setting on Beauvert Lake in a forested area. This is a vacation resort open from mid-May to October. The main building dates back to the 1920s. It has excellent facilities, including a golf course, riding stables, boat-hire, etc.In addition to the main building, the Jasper Park Lodge also offers detached cabins.
Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives
Visitors interested in the history of the beautiful Jasper - Yellowhead corridor will want to visit this well done small town museum. The Yellowhead Museum and Archives traces the history of this beautiful area of Alberta from 10,000 years past to present day. The Yellowhead Museum and Archives has three exhibit spaces, the Historical, the Alcove, and the Showcase Gallery.A rotation of exhibits rotates through the Alcove and Showcase galleries and the Historical gallery has permanent displays on the fur trade, railways, pioneers, early tourism, and historical memorabilia from the town of Jasper and surrounding areas. Among the artefacts ondisplay are Curly Phillips' canoe and the ice axe recovered from MountAlberta.