The Rocky Mountain Tours and Transport Building. This unique building originally served as the office and garage for Rocky Mountain Tours. The tour company was formed in the 1920's by James McLeod. The tour company was later operated by James' son Allan McLeod and his sons-in-law Robert Bray and Hal Waterhouse (22 Otter Street) who built this building in 1946. The partners sought to capitalize upon tourist industry growth after World War II. Designed by prominent Calgary architect J.Stevenson, the quaint Rundle rock facade features a multi-pane window, large concrete capstones and stone parapet detaiing. A second storey was added to the structure in 1955 and a restaurant was opened in 1968. Upon closer examination the building's original garage door opening remains visible behind the canopy of the Grizzly House restaurant. This local landmark is a good example of the adaptive reuse and preservation of an historic building.

207 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

Brewster Transport Co. Building. This unique 1939 structure, designed by prominent Alberta architects Fordyce and Stevenson, is of the "Art Moderne" style, an offshoot of Art Deco. It is characterized by a sleek, streamlined appearance wih rounded corners and stripped of detailings. This look was a deliberate architectural backlash against the "clutter" of earlier Victorian styles. The parapet is stepped and its corners curved. The original portion of the building forms the southwest corner. Additions were also made in the 1960's and 1980's. The Hudson Bay Company occupied the building from 1940 to 1948. In 1948 eleven rooms were created on the second floor as overflow accomodation for the Mount Royal Hotel. Also in 1948, the building was used as a hub for local taxicab drivers and became offices for Brewster Transport, a local sightseeing and tour company. The Brewster family came to Banff in 1886. Two sons, Jim and Bill, started a business in 1892 shuttling Canadian Pacific Railway guests between the train station and the Banff Springs Hotel in tally-hos, and operating backcountry horse trips. After 1915, when motor vehicles were finally allowed in the park, the company began road tours with Packard touring cars, sightseeing buses, and later, deluxe motor coaches.

202 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARKS The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks were designated a site of outstanding universal value and placed on the World Heritage List on October 30, 1984. Among the attributes that warranted this designation were features such as Lake Louise, Maligne Lake, Mount Robson, the Columbia Icefield and the Burgess Shale which was assigned world heritage status in its own right in 1980. Beginning in 1885, when a part of what is now Banff National Park was reserved for public use. The Canadian Rockies have formed the backbone of Canada's protected natural areas system. This extensive area with its large tracts of wilderness is dedicated as a World Heritage Site for the benefit and enjoyment of all nations.

212 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

DAVE WHITE BLOCK. In 1886 Superintendent George Stewart surveyed Banff Avenue, the town's first street. At first, "boomtown" buildings - simple wood-frame structures concealed behind false fronts - lined both sides of what was to become Banff's main commercial street. By the early 1900's, more substantial buildings constructed of brick and stone replaced many of these structures. These improvements reflected Banff's mounting success as a visitor destination. One of Banff Avenue's first merchants was David White (b. 1864 - d. 1940). In 1885, White arrived in Banff and became a railway section foreman. He stayed on and, in 1894 opened a general store here called the Park Store. In 1908, a brick building with pressed tin ceilings (the southern half of the present building) replaced the "boomtown" Park Store. When the store was expanded in 1913, its facade was reconstructed to reflect an Edwardian commercial design. Renovated in 1996, the Dave White Block is the oldest remaining commercial building on Banff Avenue.

103/105 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

DOMINION CAFE. This building was the former home of the Dominion Cafe, which was operated for many years by the Yee-Wing family, one of the first Chinese families to develop a business in Banff. Yee Sing and his young son Fred Yee Wing arrived in Banff in 1921 and opened their first cafe at Caribou Street and Banff Avenue. In 1923, Yee Sing purchased the current property, and converted the building into a restaurant with two dining rooms, counter seating for twenty, and Chinese lanterns decorating the interior. When Yee Sing returned to China in 1948, his son Fred took over ownership and operated the cafe with his wife Edith. In 1949, Fred renovated the Cafe, creating a central door and two large show windows, and adding a Rundle-rock facade that remains today. Two neon signs advertising "Fountain Drinks" and "Chinese Dishes" were also added. Throughout its history, the Cafe played an important role in the Banff community. The Wings hosted a yearly "town dinner" for local residents, volunteered at the Rundle United Church, and were proud supporters of the Winter Carnival. Part of their Winter Carnival contributions included coordinating a Chinese New Year's "lion dance". They also purchased and shipped fireworks from China for Victoria Day celebrations. The Dominion Cafe closed in 1967 when Fred became ill. In 1968 he passed away, and Edith moved with their four children; Carol, Paul, Brian and Donald to Calgary in 1970. The building currently operates as a gift shop.

209 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

SULPHUR MOUNTAIN COSMIC RAY STATION. Located at the top of Sulphur Mountain, the cosmic ray station was completed by the National Research Council in 1956, in preparation for International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) an undertaking involving 66 countries and a dozen scientific disciplines. The study of cosmic rays held a prominent place, with 99 cosmic ray stations (nine in Canada) in operation worldwide during IGY. Due to its high elevation Sulphur Mountain was the most important Canadian station. In 1960 the University of Alberta at Calgary took over the station, which was closed in 1978. The building itself was dismantled in 1981.

Sulphur Mountain, Banff, AB, Canada

THE FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS. Opened in 1888 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, this landmark hotel was the inspiration of Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, 19th century railway pioneer and hotel visionary, who famously quipped, "If we can't export the scenery, we'll import the tourists". It was originally a five storey, wooden structure built on a cement foundation. The architect was the renowned Bruce Price of New York. The hotel was described as "a bastion of luxury", and boasted 250 rooms with the cost of a room starting at $3.50 per night. The hotel operated seasonally from May 15 to October 1. Due to the increasing popularity of the hotel as an international mountain resort destination, a decision was made in 1910 to replace the wooden hotel in stages. Between 1911 and 1914, the 11 storey centre tower designed by Walter Painter of Pennsylvania was added as the first stage of the new grand and luxurious hotel. In 1926, disaster struck when the north wing of the original wooden hotel burnt down. Subsequently, the new north and the south wings were quickly rebuilt and completed on May 15, 1928. Styled in the spirit of a Scottish baronial castle, the thick limestone blocks used on the exterior were quarried from Mount Rundle, a short distance from the hotel along the Spray River. Hundreds of Italian stone cutters and Scottish stone masons were employed to complete the project.

405 Spray Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

HARMONY LANE. In 1903 Byron Harmon (1875-1942) arrived in Banff (see 136 St. Julien Road). A professional photographer originally from Tacoma, Washington, he was named the Alpine Club of Canada's first official photographer in 1906. During his career he amassed a collection of over 6,500 photographs. A successful entrepreneur, in 1908 he purchased half of the site on which this building now sits. In 1912, he secured the other half and opened a movie theatre, which was destroyed by fire in 1917. The current building was built in 1917. The building features Tudor style half timbering on its gables and entry pillars originally constructed of river stones. In its time the building has housed a photo studio, curio shop, tearoom, bookstore, beauty parlor, theatre, library and drugstore. The building had Banff's first gas lighting, ice cream machine, neon sign and one of Western Canada's first postcard machines. The Harmon family still owns the building. The mall features not only the photography of Byron Harmon, but also that of his son Don and granddaughter Carol.

111 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

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

ST. PAUL'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The first Presbyterian services were held in Banff in 1887 by Rev. Elliot and student missionary Rev. McKay in a local residents home. The following year, a church was built at the junction of Bear and Lynx Streets with lumber donated by the Canadian Pacific Railway. By 1929, Banff Avenue had replaced Lynx Street as the main town thoroughfare and the 1888 church was moved to the back of this site. It now serves as the parish hall and is amongst Banff's oldest buildings. In 1930 Rev. Dr. Frank Baird and Rev. Nixon laid the cornerstone for the church we see today. This church, designed by Calgary architect D. S. McIlroy, is built in the High Victorian Gothic Revival Style with Tudor details over stucco. The base is clad in locally quarried Rundle rock. The 22 m high spire is galvanized metal painted to look like copper and the tower is elegantly decorated. An impressive stained glass window featuring Mt. Rundle is located over the front doorway.

230 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 MOORE RESIDENCE. In 1907 Philip Moore and Pearl Brewster Moore built this home at 467 Banff Avenue, the same year they wed. In 1889 Pearl was reportedly the first white child born in Banff, to dairy operators John and Bella Brewster. As the only girl in a family of active boys, she grew up a capable and avid outdoorswoman. Philip was from a wealthy American family of distillers. He came to Banff in 1902 for a hunting trip with Pearl's brothers Bill and Jim and financed a pioneer outfitting and guiding business that later became Brewster Transport. During World War I he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Army, served overseas and was head of the "Alberta Depot" responsible for conscription in the province by war's end. The Moores travelled the world extensively and amassed a collection of native artifacts that adorn this home, along with artifacts relating to the region's history. After Philip's death in 1951, Pearl donated the house and its contents to her friend Catharine Whyte and in 1971 it was moved to this location and became part of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies' collection. Pearl passed away in 1974.

125 Lynx Street, Banff, AB, Canada

BANFF RAILWAY STATION. After Confederation in 1867, Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald realized that to prosper, Canada needed a national railway to link east and west with a ribbon of steel. This was to become his "National Dream". To facilitate this mammoth undertaking, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was incorporated in February 1881. By 1883, construction had reached Bow Valley. In that year, three railway workers discovered natural mineral hot springs at the base of Sulpur Mountain. In November 1885, the federal government created the Hot Springs Reserve, forerunner of Banff National Park, for the enjoyment of all Canadians. Tourism in the Canadian Rockies was born. Wealthy people from all over the world would arrive by train and be taken by tally-ho to the Banff Springs Hotel, one of a series of grand hotels the CPR built along its mountain route. By 1910, the original log station built in 1886 was unable to meet the increasing tourist traffic and was replaced with this present structure. It features a typical long horizontal profile with a small second storey with two steep gables. Massive roof brackets support the wide overhang. The walls are stucco above a riverstone base. This building is designated a Federal Heritage Railway Station.

327 Railway Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada

ST. MARY'S OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH. Fathers Blanchet and Demers held the first Mass in the Canadian Rockies in 1833 at the "Committee Punch Bowl" on the summit of Athabasca Pass, 225 km north of Banff, at the request of the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1845, Father DeSmet did missionary work with the First Nations. Father Claude offered the first local Mass in 1883 beside the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line at the base of Cascade Mountain for railway workers. Father Doucet offered the first Mass in the new town of Banff, August 4, 1886. Father Blais had the first log Catholic Church built in 1888 at 226 Lynx Street. It was reclad in white drop siding in 1892. This Romanesque-style church, built in 1951, replaced the original. Longtime Priest, Father R. McGuinness, an architectural engineer for the CPR before joining the clergy, designed it. The impressive rockwork is gneiss quarried by hand near Castle Mountain. The stained glass windows, added in 1953, also designed by Father McGuinness, were made in Innsbruck, Austria. The main altar is of Austrian marble and the window behind it is a replica of one in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Internal wrought iron railings are from Dublin, Ireland. The first Mass in the new church was held on Christmas Eve, 1951. The shrine was completed in 1954. The parish hall, designed by architects Stevenson, Raines, Seton, Barett and Hutton, is an excellent example of a modern 1964 sympathetic addition.

312 Lynx Street, Banff, AB, Canada

TELUS BUILDING formerly the Alberta Government Telephones Building. The Alberta Government Telephones Building, later named the TELUS Building, was constructed in 1955 and was the first utility office building in Banff. At the time of construction, Alberta Government Telephones was the exclusive telephone provider in the province. This building marks the modernization of Banff and is representative of the monumental investment into public infrastructure that took place in the 1950s. Still a telephone exchange today, it was previously managed by human switchboard operators, until automatic operations took over in the early 1960s. In the past it also functioned as an office location and a retail outlet where one could rent a listening room, shop the latest answering machines, or pay a bill in person. Currently, the second floor houses the exchange for landlines and infrastructure has been added as technology transformed over time, such as the antennas on the roof to enable the use of cell phones. The architectural style of the building suggests a modernist design with horizontal massing of the first and second storey windows, flat-rectilinear finishes of the facade, and emphasis on utility and minimal ornamentation. The philosophical ideals of the modernist movement, such as commercial efficiency, embracing of new technology, and a separation from historical association, correspond well with the building's use, acting as a hub for the once new, ground-breaking communication tool. In juxtaposition, the stone facade and retaining wall, mature coniferous trees, and wooden, gable-roofed payphone booth with Parks Canada colours, pay tribute to the locale within Banff National Park.

223 Beaver Street, Banff, AB, Canada

JAMES THOMPSON HOUSE AND CABINS. The demand for tourist accomodation in Banff has always exceeded supply. In 1888, the Banff Springs Hotel and a few others offered rooms. By the 1920's the shortage was acute. In an attempt to alleviate the problem and earn extra income, many Banff residents constructed backyard "tent cabins" (canvas walls and roof with a wood floor) and later, full cabins. At the time, the Parks Department considered many of these to be substandard and required improvements. In 1928, the Parks Department decided to allow such backyard development. A permit had to be obtained, fresh water and refuse collection were to be provided, and cabin design had to be formally approved and built on properties with an existing house. In 1932, regulations were revised to allow more substantial bungalow cabins to replace the small tent cabins. A 1937 survey reported there were over 400 backyard cabins and tent cabins in Banff, most of which are now gone. Due to the continued abuse of the regulations, the government ended further cabin construction in 1939. The buildings on this site are very well maintained and offer an excellent example of such backyard development.

220 Beaver 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

BEAVER LODGE. Beaver Lodge has been home to hundreds. Built and owned by the Luxton family, who resided at 206 Beaver Street, this eight bedroom log structure is typical of early Banff rooming houses. The rustic detailing of the log exterior, varnished wood interiors and minimal alterations make this structure a fine example of a building style once common in Banff. The home is now owned by the Eleanor Luxton Foundation and maintained as a private residence. Beaver Lodge was operated by numerous lessees, some for periods of over twenty years, with rooms for boarders and overnight guests. In 1922 Norman Luxton commented, "Beaver Lodge cost to build in 1913-14 about $3,500. Rent right along for $500 to $600 a year. Is modern throughout with a furnace". In the 1920's Professor William Round operated the Banff Academy of Music in Beaver Lodge and rented out rooms. Famous guests included Group of Seven painter J.E.H. MacDonald (1923) and Captain Conrad O'Brien-ffrench, the inspiration for James Bond Secret Agent 007 (1946). Host tenants have included the Round, Timms, Orme and Holscher families.

212 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

LUXTON RESIDENCE. Perhaps none of Banff's early settlers contributed more to the town's development than Norman K. Luxton (b.1874-d.1962). Influenced by his father, co-founder of the Winnipeg Free Press, Luxton worked as a journalist for the Calgary Herald until he moved to Vancouver in 1901. Luxton came to Banff to recuperate after a 10,000 mile, trans-Pacific voyage aboard the canoe Tilikum, and never left. In 1902, he purchased the Banff Crag and Canyon Newspaper, which he published for 49 years. His other Banff enterprises included the Indian Trading Post, Lux Theatre, King Edward Hotel and Luxton Museum. Luxton was a strong local "booster", instrumental in the Board of Trade, Banff Indian Days, and the Banff Winter Carnival. In 1904, Norman Luxton and Georgina McDougall (b.1870-d.1965) were married. "Georgie" was a member of the famous McDougall family of missionaries and traders. She was reportedly the first non-native child born in what is now Alberta and was taken into the Stoney tribe as a Princess and Blood Sister. In 1907, the Luxtons purchased this home from rancher Frank Ricks. The Luxtons' daughter Eleanor (b.1908)-educator, engineer, businesswoman, collector and historian-lived here until her death in 1995. She established the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation. The Foundation owns this home, "Tanglewood" at 208 Beaver Street, and "Beaver Lodge" at 212 Beaver Street.

206 Beaver Street, Banff, AB, Canada

MACKENZIE RESIDENCE. The MacKenzie Residence and the adjacent historic resources owned by Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation on Beaver Street, collectively represent a highly significant historic streetscape that reflects the diversity of development in Banff and contributes to the historic character of the town. The MacKenzie Residence was constructed for $6,000 in 1945 by Flora and George MacKenzie, who held lease on the property from 1922 to circa 1971. Flora died in 1971 and the residence was acquired by Eleanor Luxton as a rental property in 1975. The home is highly original in its modest Arts & Crafts design. It is a one and one-half storey, wood-frame, Craftsman style bungalow which displays a medium pitched gable roof, exposed rafter ends, enclosed porch/verandah and bottle-glass stucco. The house has been well maintained with only minor updates to the interior and exterior. The home has a Municipal Historic Resource Designation and retains much of its original form, scale, and massing, as well as almost all of its historic materials. Since Eleanor's death in 1995, the home has been managed by the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation.

202 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