Medicine Hat - Saamis Teepee

Visitors driving along highway by Medicine Hat will do a double take as they cruise along. Situated a short distance off the highway is the world's largest teepee, the Saamis teepee.

Designed by Steve Illes and originally constructed for the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Saamis Teepee was moved to Medicine Hat after the games. The word Saamis is Blackfoot Indian for the eagle tail headdress, a hat worn by the medicine man of the tribe.

The Saamis teepee is 65 meter / 215 feet high and has a diameter of 48.8 m/ 160 feet at the base. It weighs an astounding 200 tonnes / 440, 800 lbs. The Saamis teepee was mounted at this location in 1991.