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Daily guided tours in the summer provide visitors with an in-depth
look at the buildings and characters that are part of Fort
Macleod’s historic Main Street.
Twice daily in July and August, guides in period costume will lead
visitors on a 30- to 40-minute tour of the downtown area.
“They’ll talk about the buildings and some of the historical
figures in Fort Macleod,” tour co-ordinator Dawn Lauder said.
The tour program is being delivered by The Fort — Museum of the
North West Mounted Police.
Beginning daily at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Devonian Walkway —
weather permitting — the walking tour will cover the core of Main
Street, the historic Grier Block on Second Avenue, as well as the
former territorial courthouse, which now serves as the Town of
Fort Macleod office on Chief Red Crow Blvd.
“People will learn a lot more from the guides than if they just
walk around on their own,” Lauder said. “There will be a lot more
interaction and talk about some of the people, the characters from
the history of Fort Macleod.”
Highlights from Fort Macleod’s more recent past will be showcased
on the guided tour.
In recent years the production of big budget movies have been a
point of interest for people visiting Fort Macleod. People
specifically ask the tour guides to show them where scenes from
some popular movies were filmed. In recent years scenes from films
such as “Brokeback Mountain” and “Passchendaele” have been filmed
in Fort Macleod. The tour guides will point out where “Brokeback
Mountain” scenes were filmed in such locations as Holy Cross
Parish Hall, the Town of Fort Macleod office, the apartment
adjacent to Photo Plus, the Queen’s Hotel, and the Java Shop.
Scenes from “Passchendaele” were filmed last fall in Fort Macleod,
and include such buildings as the Union Bank building, Don’s
Barber Shop, Andrew’s Hardware and Hodnett’s Drug Store and Main
Street. Pointing out the film locations adds an extra bit of
interest to the tour. Fans of Alberta singer-songwriter Corb Lund
will be interested to know scenes from his video for the song
“Family Reunion” were shot in Fort Macleod at Holy Cross Parish
Hall and Don’s Barber Shop. |
