Once the tracks were laid, Canada was connected from east to west. These railway companies (Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Grand Trunk to name a few) competed for travellers and businesses to use their railway lines. One of their tactics was to construct a series of grand hotels to lure tourists (both foreign and domestic) to burgeoning cities and rugged wilderness escapes. Here in western Canada, the wilderness was pristine and ripe for exploration and adventure.
The architecture used in these opulent hotels evoked castles and chateaus that were commonplace in Europe. The strategy worked and Canadian tourism was propelled forward due in large part to the luxury that was being offered. Not all of these hotels survived. Some burned, others fell into various states of disrepair, or were later demolished. However, many have become cherished Canadian landmarks that reside on many a bucket list. This is list focuses on many of the western Canadian hotels but is not a comprehensive list. How many of these grand railway hotels have you visited?
For even more historical posts from across Alberta and Western Canada, please follow this link.
The photos above were collected from Archives Canada, the Provincial Archives of Alberta, and the City of Vancouver Archives. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their websites. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from across Alberta and Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
