1908 Alberta Map

Map Description

This historic 1908 map provides a detailed cartographic overview of the Prairie Provinces—Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It features a sophisticated color-coding system designed to illustrate land use, vegetation, and topographical features. The map highlights the rapidly expanding railway networks and township grids of the era, showcasing the early 20th-century push for settlement and infrastructure development across Western Canada.

Interesting Alberta Facts: 1908

• The University of Alberta Opens: 1908 marked the first year of classes for the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The initial cohort consisted of just 45 students and five faculty members, including the university's first president, Henry Marshall Tory.
• Creation of Elk Island: While the area was designated a federal park preserve in 1906, it was in 1908 that it was officially renamed Elk Island Park. It became a crucial sanctuary for the plains bison, helping to save the species from near extinction.
• The "All-Alberta" Government: By 1908, Alberta was only three years old as a province. The government, led by Premier Alexander Rutherford, was in the midst of a massive building boom, including the early planning and construction phases of the Alberta Legislature Building.