In 1890, baby Adelia Woodworth became one of the first registered burials in what today is known as The Old Banff Cemetery. A designated heritage site, the old cemetery is a tranquil stroll through Banff's history. The storied pioneers and community builders lay here, side by side with those whose tales are less known but equally compelling; more than 2,000 Banffites are buried here.
The cemetery also served the nearby community of Bankhead, and the Bankhead Miners Memorial honours the 15 miners killed over the 22 years of operations. Here too, lay some of Banff's veterans of the first and second world wars, along with notable mountaineers, such as Arthur Wheeler, founder of the Alpine Club of Canada. William McCardell, one of the rail workers who first stumbled upon the hot springs at Cave & Basin, is also buried here.
Mary Schaffer Warren, who lived across the street in Tarry-a-While, described the cemetery as a "place of rest and kindly neighbours". She rests among her kind neighbours in the southeast quadrant.
Did you know? You may be dying to be in Banff, but only permanent residents at the time of passing, or previous Banff National Park residents of 25 years or more, or individuals who are immediate next-of-kin to someone already interred, can be buried in Banff.
