Welcoming Visitors
Preserving History
The Museum of the Highwood is working to preserve the past for future generations through our exhibits, collections, programs, photo archives and events.
We are proud to be home to High River’s Visitor Information Centre, welcoming visitors from around the world.
In addition to providing tourist information and interpreter services for visitors to the High River area, we also offer in-house and school outreach programs, and host a wide variety of other events and activities.
Check out the Visit Us page for more information.
Our Story
Calgary Train station, c. 1909. The building on the left was moved to High River in 1911. The second building was moved to Claresholm, where it continues to serve as their museum!
The Museum of the Highwood is located in a 114 year old former CPR station.
First built in Calgary in 1893, the station was just one half of the first Calgary station. Connected to a second building by a short breezeway, the building was located close to where the Palliser Hotel now sits. The station would serve the up-and-coming city for almost 20 years before a larger station became necessary. Not wanting to waste good materials, the CPR decided to move each half to growing towns along the Calgary-Lethbridge track. High River was given one half, Claresholm the other. The process took about a year, but in February of 1912 a new station was ready to welcome visitors.
High River’s train station would serve the community until 1960, when the depot was decommissioned. The building would be left empty for several years.
In the meantime, a dedicated group of volunteers had opened a museum in the former Eamor’s Saddlery on 3rd Avenue S.W. The museum included items on loan from locals as well as from the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. However, the 3rd Avenue building soon ran out of space. The museum was in need of a new home.
The Museum of the Highwood, days after the 2013 Flood.
Enter the abandoned railway station. In 1971, the Museum of the Highwood would officially move into “The Station”. A few years later, in 1977, the building would be officially sold to the Town of High River, for $5.
The Museum has remained in the building since 1971, except for two notable exceptions: a fire in 2010 and the flood of 2013.
The Station has continued to be a hub of visitors, storytellers, and history. We can’t wait to see you!