Historic Walking Tour

Take a walk back through Vulcan, History

1. The Vulcan and District Museum

Open: Tuesday to Saturday, June 8-Aug31, 10:00 am-4:30pn (closed 12:00-12:30 for lunch)

Continue with the Historic Walking Tour ...

3. The Vulcan Hotel (circa 1912)

The hotel was officially reopened in Vulcan in October 1912, and named the Imperial Hotel. The original owner, Mr Albert Mutz installed his own water and sewer system, and a small electric power plant – powered by a gasoline engine.

Later, when other businesses wanted electric lights he constructed a larger building and installed a steam-powered plant. In those years, the electric lights went off at midnight, except on dance nights.(Wheat Country,vol1,pgs 34-35,642-643)

4. The Town Bell (circa 1914)

That it shall not be lawful for any child under the age of sixteen years to be on the street or in any public place unless accompanied by a parent or guardian” Duties of the Village Constable: Feb 3, 1921 – “To ring the Village Bell” (Town of Vulcan)

5. The Vulcan Advocate Newspaper (circa 1913)

It was typeset by hand, and the paper was printed at the Times Office in High River then sent to Vulcan for distribution. A two-page newspaper press was installed a few months later in Vulcan.

In 1917, a brick and tile building was constructed on Main Street to house The Advocate offices and printing plant. In 1946, circulation of The Advocate was 600 copies a week, by 1949, circulation had doubled to over 1300. By 1965, circulation had reached 2600 copies.

Today, The Advocate has a circulation of 2200 and serves the communities of Arrowwood, Brant, Berrywater, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond, Milo, Mossleigh, and Vulcan. (Wheat Country Vol.1, Pgs 35-36)

6. Memorial Cenotaph and Elks Memorial Park

The Cenotaph was rededicated in 2005, to include the names of the veterans of World War l and Korean War.

Pastor Frank Harris of the Vulcan Evangelical Missionary Church led the rededication ceremony: “We dedicate this park as a reminder of those that have paid the ultimate price with their lives to preserve the freedoms of life we enjoy. The cenotaph is a solemn reminder that freedom is never free. May every person that comes here be reminded that we all owe our respect and appreciation to all that have sacrificed for the security and common good of our nation, province, country and community.” (Vulcan Advocate, Wed, Aug 17, 2005)

7. Hazel Cameron Elementary School Monument

The monument was constructed using bricks salvaged from the demolition of this school. The Vulcan School was renamed Hazel Cameron Elementary in 1962, in honour of a beloved teacher who came to Vulcan in 1927, and who retired 35years later as Vice-Principal.

Hazel Cameron School was demolished in 2005, and replaced by the new Vulcan Prairie Elementary School. (Vulcan and District Historical Society)

8. The Vulcan Cemetery (est. 1917)

Walk through the peaceful rows of Vulcan’s cemetery, while you contemplate the live of our communities’ earliest residents. (Vulcan Historical Society)

9. Original Grain Elevator Site/9 in a Line (1911 -1971)

Prior to the days of the elevator, grain was sacked, in bags costing $0.25 each. This costly method was stopped as soon as the elevators became available.

Vulcan’s first grain elevator was built in 1911, and by the early 1920’s, Vulcan boasted an impressive

October 5, 1928: “The distinction of being the point in the British Empire from which the largest number of bushels of grain is shipped direct from farm to rolling stock belongs to Vulcan, Alberta. Last year, Vulcan shipped two and a quarter million bushels of grain … (Wheat Made Vulcan)

By the 1950s, the elevator’s storage capacity had expanded to a capacity of 2,200,000 bushels (Alberta Museum review, Vol. 31, No 1, Fall 2005, Pg. 48)

10. The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 21

The Charter renewed to “Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League” on November 17, 1926. The Legion moved to its current location in 1978.

The garden beside the legion’s entrance contains an anchor donated by the Navy League of Canada, and a memorial stone of Jade with flags commemorating the three branches of the armed services, and a cornerstone form the original Memorial Hall dedicated in 1927.

Inside the Legion are showcases displaying memorabilia from Vulcan residents’ participation in World War ll. (Vulcan Historical Society)

11. Vulcan Starship FX6-1995-A

The Starship was named after the Vulcan airports identifier ‘FX6’, ‘1995’ was the year it was unveiled and ‘A’ signifies the first project launched to pursuit of development of the Science and Trek theme.

Be sure to notice the plaques engraved on the base, written in the English, Klingon and Vulcan languages.

12. The Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station

Drop by the Trek Station to collect information about things to see and do around Vulcan County. While taking in the Star Trek inspired planetscape murals, memorabilia gift shop and virtual Reality game. See a casting of the Vulcan Meteorite.

The Sky Falls On Vulcan

Dr Oliver at the University of Alberta in Calgary, confirmed it to be a meteorite that he believed originated near the Mars-Jupiter Asteroid Belt.

The meteorite was found in about 30cm of soil, and weighed 19k (41.8lbs). The fusion crust formed by the heat of friction with the atmosphere was still intact; indicating that is was a fairly recent fall.

The Vulcan Tourism &Trek Station has a cast of one third of the meteorite on display.

The original pieces are stored at the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and in the Canadian Meteorite Collection

Open Year Round. Call 403-485-2994 or visit the Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station