1897 Alberta Map

Map Description

This historical document is a high-resolution scan of a Rand, McNally & Co. lithographed map from their Indexed Atlas of the World. It illustrates the North West Territories of Canada as they appeared in the late 19th century, specifically highlighting the provisional districts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Assiniboia before they achieved provincial status. The map features hand-colored boundaries, intricate topographical details of the Rocky Mountains, and the expanding network of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Alberta in 1897: Did You Know?

• The Klondike Connection: In 1897, Edmonton marketed itself as the "All-Canadian Route" to the Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands of prospectors arrived in the town, buying supplies and pack horses before attempting the grueling overland trek north to the Yukon.
• Pre-Provincial Governance: Alberta was not yet a province in 1897; it was a provisional district of the North-West Territories. It would be another eight years before the Alberta Act of 1905 officially established it as a province of Canada.
• A "Capital" Rivalry: While the Territorial capital was located in Regina (in present-day Saskatchewan), 1897 saw intense lobbying and growth in Calgary and Edmonton as they competed for dominance in the region's rapidly growing agricultural and ranching sectors.