CASCADE DANCE HALL. In 1921, William "Billy" Warren (b. 1885 - d. 1943) built the Cascade Dance Hall. The building featured unique Dutch Colonial details such as a bell-shaped roof line, arched openings, and a decorative parapet. The hall, known for its floating dance floor, was considered one of the best in Western Canada. Accompanied by Jim Hutchin's orchestra, dances were held nightly during the summer and on special occasions throughout the year. Between 1963 and 1978, the building operated as a wax museum. Later, it was subdivided for stores and restaurants. Building owner Billy Warren was also an early guide and outfitter in Banff. He accompanied many visitors, most notably Mary Schäffer, an American naturalist-artist-writer, on expeditions in the Rockies. In 1915, after many years of travelling together Warren and Schäffer married. Backed by his wife, Warren pursued many other ventures, including Rocky Mountain Tours, Banff Motors, and the Cascade Hotel.

120 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

BANFF SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. Banff's first permanent school was constructed on Banff Avenue in 1887, just one year after the town had been established. Built in 1939, the Banff School Auditorium (now the Parks Canada Information Centre) is the only one of Banff's early educational facilities still standing. As Banff was in need of classroom space and a community hall, the federal government used funds granted by the Public Works Construction Act of the 1930's to build the 500-seat auditorium. The Tudor Revival detailing, steeply pitched roof, half-timbering and Rundle rock facing was typical of institutional buildings in Banff. For over 25 years, The Banff School of Fine Arts (now The Banff Centre) held its summer classes here. In 1972, federal government acquired the building for use as an information centre.

224 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

THE HOMESTEAD RESTAURANT. John Locke built the original Homestead Hotel as a "temperance house" in the six years between 1913 and 1919. In 1919, the Hotel was purchased by local businessman David M. Soole. In 1930 Mr. Soole built the Homestead Restaurant and Tavern adding it to the existing Hotel in response to the Park's growth as an international travel destination and the increasing demand for a quality dining facility in Banff. The prominent location of the hotel and restaurant was convenient to both motor travellers and rail passengers arriving in Banff. The restaurant is the only remaining portion of the original Homestead Hotel complex. The rustic log interior and stucco Tudor exterior remain true to the original design. The building remains a significant Banff social landmark.

210 Lynx Street, Banff, AB, Canada

THE SIBBALD RESIDENCE. This rustic home was designed and built in 1915 by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Engineer, Harvey Wright. The home is typical of worker housing provided by the CPR prior to 1920, incorporating a gable hip roof, half-timbering of the gable ends, exposed rafters with projecting eves, shingled exterior, fieldstone fireplace and post & rail veranda. From 1915 to 1932, this was the home of Howard Sibbald and his wife Rettie. He was a member of one of the Bow Valley's pioneer families and Banff National Park's first Chief Park Warden. During this time the property lease was held by their son-in-law James Brewster, a member of one of Banff's original guiding and outfitting famiies. In 1932, the property was transferred to Fern Brewster, the only daughter of James. The property was purchased from Fern Brewster Clarkson, in 1951, by Louis Crosby (see 136 Bow Avenue), her father's business partner and president of Brewster Transport Company Ltd., in the early 1950's. Descendents of the Crosby family continue to own and maintain this home.

135 Lynx Street, Banff, AB, Canada

THE HOLMES RESIDENCE. Reggie Holmes was one of Banff's earliest pioneers. He arrived from England at the turn of the century and acquired this property in 1903, when Banff was still a part of the Northwest Territories. The original log structure was built in 1905, the year Alberta became a province. Reggie, with his packhorses and camera, explored the mountains with the likes of Elliot Barnes, B.W. Mitchell, Mary Schaffer, and Sid Unwin. He was with the first party of "non-natives" to visit Maligne Lake, previously known only to the local aboriginal population. He was a member of the Alpine Club of Canada and years later joined the government service as a timekeeper. Holmes met his wife, Nellie Macgregor Fyfe, when she arrived from Scotland in 1908. Mrs. Holmes was an artist who worked in oils. In 1922, she became the first Girl Guide captain in Banff. They had one daughter, Vera. After Mr. Holmes' death in 1919, Nellie married Arthur Unwin, a pioneer from England and local building contractor. They owned and operated a hardware store and lumberyard and became two of early Banff's most prominent community and business leaders. In 1925, Arthur shingled over the original log structure and in 1947 built the full-length addition to the north side of the house. The home has been owned and maintained by Vera (Holmes) McGinn, since the death of her mother in 1965.

214 Beaver Street, Banff, AB, Canada

TANGLEWOOD. In 1883, after the construction of the railway through the Rockies, a siding was established at the base of Cascade Mountain. Tanglewood is believed to have been built here around 1887 by Fred Woodworth, the region's first post master, and used as the National Park post office. Like many frontier buildings of its time, Tanglewood is a basic log structure constructed from local materials. In 1886, the townsite of Banff was established along the banks of the Bow River, several miles south and east of the siding. By 1898, the settlement here had been abandoned and Tanglewood was relocated to Banff. During this early settlement period, when a town's future was unpredictable, buildings were commonly transported to nearby areas. Over 100 years old, Tanglewood is Banff's oldest remaining building from Siding 29.

208 Beaver Street, Banff, AB, Canada

FIRE HALL. Many of Banff's landmark buildings were constructed during the Great Depression. At this time, the federal government began an extensive public works program in the national parks. This building was originally constructed in 1935 as the Central garage, a facility required by the National Parks Engineering Service for the repair of equipment used in road maintenance and construction projects. In 1963, the building was converted to a fire hall, replacing an existing one on Banff Avenue. The National Parks Architectural Division developed a picturesque, rustic approach to design in the parks. The fire hall's gabled wood roof, half-timbering, and Rundle rock cladding were typical of this "Rocky Mountain" style. Although the building was extensively renovated and a north wing added in 1994, the facades of the historic structure facing Beaver and Caribou Streets remain largely intact.

201 Beaver Street, Banff, AB, Canada