The corner of Banff Avenue and Buffalo Street has witnessed many changes but the iconic view looking north along Banff Avenue to Cascade Mountain remains as picturesque today as it did in 1886. Banff National Park's first superintendent, George Stewart, was asked to perform many tasks (e.g. road and bridge construction, lease negotiations, upgrades to the hot pools, forest fire protection and new business applications) when he arrived shortly after the park was created. One of Stewart's first tasks was to survey and lay out the streets and building lots on both sides of the Bow River. The north side of the river was a classic grid of streets that has changed little from his original plan. South of the river, the plan was for larger "villa" lots for people who would be attracted to the hot springs and spas. Beneath your feet are the foundations of the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) Barracks. Just south is the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site. It was built in 1903 and also served as the park headquarters for many years. Further west along Buffalo Street, in present day Central Park, was the Moulton Park Hotel.
Did you know? In 1890, the cost of operating Banff National Park was $11,498.38.
