The name ‘Yoho’ means ‘awe and wonder’ in the Cree language. It’s the perfect name for Yoho National Park, as the place is filled with both. The park was established in 1886 as Mount Stephen Reserve (the same day as neighbouring Glacier National Park), making them the second oldest national parks in Canada, behind Banff National Park. The park was renamed Yoho in 1901.
Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 1880s-1890s
Here’s a small collection of photographs from Yoho’s earliest days. For more information about Yoho National Park, more specifically the world-renowned fossil beds of the Burgess Shale, please refer to my previous story, Yoho’s Stone Bugs.
Cathedral Crags, British Columbia, 1884-1886Mount Stephen, British Columbia, 1886Wooden centre span of Ottertail Creek trestle, British Columbia, 1884-1886Laughing falls, Yoho Valley, Field, British Columbia, 1905-1906Canadian Pacific Railway Mount Stephen House, Field, British Columbia, 1904Summit near Canadian Pacific Railway line, Alberta/British Columbia, 1880sCanadian Press Association excursionists at Great Divide, Alberta-British Columbia border, 1899Field and Mount Stephen, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 1900Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 1910Twin Falls, British Columbia, 1905Hikers at the summit of Opabin Pass, on border of Alberta and British Columbia, 1910Swiss guides, Christian and Hans Kaufman on Mount Hungabee, on border of Alberta and British Columbia, 1907Alpine Club camp, Laughing Falls, British Columbia, 1907Emerald Lake Chalet, British Columbia, 1910sNatural bridge, British Columbia, 1905-1906Emerald Lake, British Columbia, 1905Mount Hungabee, Alberta, 1912Party climbing Mount President, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 1921-1937Mount Burgess, British Columbia, 1920-1929Car on Snowpeak Avenue, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 1920-1929Car on switchback road, Yoho valley, British Columbia, 1920-1929Cathedral Mountain, British Columbia, 1920Looking up at the mountains from Lake Oesa in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, 1921-1937
The photos above were collected from the Glenbow Archives. Additional information can be found for each photograph on the Glenbow website by searching the identification number that is printed on each photo. There is also the option to purchase a high resolution copy. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from Alberta. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
Tyler is originally from Saskatchewan, and yes he cheers for the Roughriders, but don’t hold that against him as Calgary has been his home for the past eight years. He is a teacher working at a wilderness-
based treatment program for youth working to overcome addiction. Tyler is also a volunteer with the GOT Parks initiative, which aims at reconnecting Canada’s youth with our national, provincial, and territorial parks. During his time away from work, Tyler enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and snowboarding, team sports, travelling, photography, spending time with good friends, and being at home with his wife and German Shepherd, Rome.
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